Abstract: A method of continuously producing a continuous paint coat of substantially constant, pre-determined thickness, and displaying a plural colour, familial, non-modular pattern, on a surface of a moving substrate, comprising the steps of depositing at least two discontinuous, randomly patchy, differently coloured, component paint deposits, at a predetermined, constant, long term deposition rate for each component deposit in terms of the volume of paint per unit area of the surface, within a single stationary target area of the surface, or within stationary target areas of the surface respectively associated with the component deposits and at least partly aligned in the direction of movement of the substrate, and thereafter spreading and smoothing the component paint deposits carried by the substrate from the target area or areas, to form the continuous coat.

Abstract: A hull-less personal water craft is provided which reduces air, water, noise, and wake pollution over personal water craft presently on the market. The craft includes a strut assembly having forward and rearward ends, with an operator platform attached at the rearward end, and having at least one hydrofoil positioned substantially underneath the operator platform at a predetermined distance. A propulsion system is provided at the forward end of the strut, and is operatively coupled to a control column which provides the operator interface when the craft operator is kneeling or standing on the operator platform. The hydrofoil provides substantially all of the lift for the craft when in operation, and the elimination of a hull greatly reduces the power requirements and wake generated by the craft in operation.

Abstract: A process for preparing an oxide thin film which has a crystalline, clean and smooth surface on a substrate. The process is conducted by using an apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber in which an oxidizing gas of O2 including O3 can be supplied near the substrate so that pressure around the substrate can be increased while maintaining high vacuum near an evaporation source and Knudsen cell evaporation sources arranged in the vacuum chamber wherein the substrate is heated, molecular beam of constituent atoms of the oxide excluding oxygen are supplied from the K cell evaporation sources, an oxidizing gas is locally supplied to the vicinity of the substrate and a growing thin film is illuminated by ultraviolet.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for continuously casting metal strip comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) to which molten metal is supplied through a delivery nozzle (19). The rolls are mounted on roll carriers (104) moveable on a frame (102) to allow rolls (16) to move toward and away from one another. Biasing units (110, 111) allow inward biasing forces to be applied to the roll carriers (104) so as to bias one of the rolls (104) toward the other. The biasing units (110) incorporate biasing springs and means to adjust the thrust exerted by the springs.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting metal strip. Metal is delivered through a distributor (18) and delivery nozzle (19) between a pair of casting rolls (16) to form a casting pool (30) supported on rolls (16) and confined by end plates (56). Rolls (16) are rotated to deliver cast strip downwardly from the nip between them. Rolls (16) are mounted on carriers (104) moveable to allow rolls (16) to move bodily toward and away from one another. Biasing units (110, 111) act on the roll carriers (104) to force them against central stops (107) and to provide roll biasing forces. Stops (107) are adjustable to set the width of the nip between the rolls (16). Biasing units (110) comprise biasing springs (112) whereas biasing units (111) comprise hydraulic actuators (113).

Abstract: A balloon catheter device designed to be especially well suited to repair or tack dissections in a blood vessel, and a method for repairing dissections, are provided, wherein the balloon catheter has a central support tube or lumen, and has, near a distal end of the catheter, a plurality of inflatable balloon elements extending along the catheter in helical patterns, with the balloon elements are spaced equidistantly around the central support tube. The catheter thus provides the ability to apply pressure, by way of the inflated balloon elements, to tack a dissection flap against the wall of the blood vessel under repair, while at the same time preserving blood flow in the blood vessel past the catheter as well as in side branch blood vessels extending from the blood vessel under repair. The helical or spiral configuration of the balloon elements provides the device with contact or bearing surfaces which closely approximates the path of spiral dissections which are known to occur in blood vessels.