Abstract: A conductive polymer PTC device includes upper, lower, and center electrodes, with a first PTC conductive polymer layer between the upper and center electrodes, and a second PTC conductive polymer layer between the center and lower electrodes. Each of the upper and lower electrodes is separated into an isolated portion and a main portion. The isolated portions of the upper and lower electrodes are electrically connected to each other and to the center electrode by an input terminal. Upper and lower output terminals are provided, respectively, on the main portions of the upper and lower electrodes and are electrically connected to each other. The resulting device is, effectively, two PTC devices connected in parallel, thereby providing an increased effective cross-sectional area for the current flow path, and thus a larger hold current, for a given footprint.

Abstract: A high voltage shunt regulator circuit includes a high voltage device with a predetermined reverse-conduction threshold connected in series with a thermal compensation device comprising a plurality of gate threshold amplifiers connected in series with one another. The high voltage device includes a plurality of zener diodes connected in series. Each of the gate threshold amplifiers includes a resistive voltage divider and a voltage-controlled resistive device, preferably a MOSFET. The voltage divider is formed by first and second resistors connected in series between first and second terminals of the gate threshold amplifier, with a MOSFET having its drain connected to the first terminal, its source connected to the second terminal, and its gate connected to an intermediate tap of the voltage divider.

Abstract: A paint brush protection device in the form of a sheath is configured for containing the bristles and the ferrule portion of a paint brush, for keeping the bristles in proper shape and alignment. The sheath has a bristle-holding portion with an expansible bottom opening for receiving a paint brush in a handle-first orientation, and a ferrule-holding portion with an expansible top opening for allowing the handle to extend outwardly from the sheath, and for allowing the paint brush positioned within the sheath to be removed therefrom. The sheath includes front and rear sheath halves that are joined together along their sides for a portion of the length below the top opening. The part of the sheath where the sheath halves are joined together forms the ferrule-holding portion of the sheath. Between the ferrule-holding portion and the bottom opening, the sheath halves are unjoined and are resiliently separable from each other to allow the expansion of the bottom opening to receive a paint brush.

Abstract: A &ggr;-ray tool and acoustic logging instrument combination includes in an elongated housing a transmitter for sound and at least one and preferably two, sound sensors located at predetermined distances above the transmitter. The sound sensors are separated from the sound transmitter by a steel tube that has a layer of lead bonded onto its exterior surface and has electronic components of the instrument placed into its interior. The portion of the housing that surrounds the lead bonded steel tube consists of fiberglass, polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON®) or other material which does not conduct sound whereby the lead-bonded tube and the immediate housing around it act as a sound isolator bar. The transmitter and the sound sensors are surrounded by portions of the housing that comprises slotted steel to allow free flow of acoustic energy through these portions of the housing.

Abstract: A conductive polymer device has three or more conductive polymer layers sandwiched between two external electrodes and two or more internal electrodes. The electrodes are staggered to create a first set of electrodes, in contact with a first terminal, alternating with a second set of electrodes in contact with a second terminal.

Abstract: Perfluorinated alkylcyclohexane and alkyl cyclopentane derivatives of the empirical formula C10F20 boil at atmospheric pressure in the range of 144-146° C. and are utilized as mediums for gas transport in liquid ventilation and in artificial blood. Compounds of the C10F20 formula which can exist only as a single stereoisomer are preferred as mediums for gas transport.

Abstract: A jet powered boat may be provided with a water monitor for fire fighting purposes. The conduit for the monitor is connected to an opening through the bottom of the hull to draw water vertically from beneath the hull. Two motors are provided in the boat. One motor is configured to propel water through the monitor conduit to the water monitor. The other motor is configured to propel water through a propulsion jet at the rear of the boat. In one embodiment, a second propulsion jet is provided at the rear of the boat, connected to the conduit for the water monitor. A baffle at the intersection of the second propulsion jet and the monitor conduit may be operated to selectively direct water to either the monitor or the propulsion jet. In this embodiment, the two motors may be placed symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the boat.

Abstract: A vascular implant formed of a compressible foam material has a compressed configuration from which it is expansible into a configuration substantially conforming to the shape and size of a vascular site to be embolized. Preferably, the implant is formed of a hydrophilic, macroporous foam material, having an initial configuration of a scaled-down model of the vascular site, from which it is compressible into the compressed configuration. The implant is made by scanning the vascular site to create a digitized scan data set; using the scan data set to create a three-dimensional digitized virtual model of the vascular site; using the virtual model to create a scaled-down physical mold of the vascular site; and using the mold to create a vascular implant in the form of a scaled-down model of the vascular site. To embolize a vascular site, the implant is compressed and passed through a microcatheter, the distal end of which has been passed into a vascular site.

Abstract: Diphenyl-dialkoxysilanes and phenylmethyl-dialkoxysilanes where the alkoxy group has 1 to 10 carbons, preferably 1 or 2 carbons, are prepared by the reactions shown in Schemes 1 through 4.

Abstract: A commutator (10, 110, 210) with a reinforcing system comprising a stepped insulating ring (20, 120, 220) with a support piece (22, 122, 222) and a center or flange piece (24, 124, 224) and a metal ring (18,118, 218) which has a rectangular cross-section and is fitted into the stepped shape of the insulating ring such that part of the radial outer surface of the metal ring abuts the radial inner surface of the center or flange piece, and the end inner surface of the metal ring completely abuts the end outer surface of the support piece.

Abstract: A portable mechanical ventilator uses a constant-speed compressor compressor and a recirculating bypass circuit. Bypass flow is governed by a spring-biased bypass valve so connected to both the inlet and the outlet of the main flow control valve as to maintain a differential pressure across the flow valve sufficient to operate the ventilator with minimal energy consumption. The flow valve is operated by a microprocessor in accordance with empirically derived lookup tables to both produce the desired air flow and provide a measure of that air flow.

Abstract: A triplex forming oligonucleotide is complementary pursuant to the G/T or A/G recognition motif to a homopurine, or substantially homopurine target sequence in double stranded nucleic acids, and at least one and preferably all of the guanine bases are replaced by their pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analog, namely by 6-amino-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one. The oliginucleotides containing the pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analog of guanine exhibit a lesser degree of self-association, and lack the nucleophilic nitrogen atom in the 7 position of guanine. The latter feature results in a diminished extent of self-crosslinking in ODNs which also have a covalently attached cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A lockable closure assembly is configured for an extensible spout container, of the type having a top with an elongate hollow extension extending distally from its surface and an extensible dispensing tube movable within the extension between a retracted position and an extended position, the tube having a distal end with an orifice for the dispensing of a liquid from the container. The closure assembly includes a closure that is internally dimensioned to fit onto the distal end of the tube so as to close the orifice, and a closure retainer element that is configured to seat against a portion of the closure when the closure is installed on the distal end of the tube, and that is internally dimensioned to frictionally engage the extension when the tube is in its retracted position while also engaging the closure. In a preferred embodiment, the closure has an open proximal end surrounded by a peripheral flange, and the closure retainer element is a hollow tubular sleeve having open proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: A battery protection device includes an upper foil electrode laminated to the upper surface of a conductive polymer PTC layer, and a lower foil electrode laminated to the lower surface of the PTC layer. An isolated portion of the lower electrode is formed by creating an annular isolation gap in the lower electrode. A first via is formed through the upper electrode, the PTC layer, and the isolated portion of the lower electrode. The diameter of the first via is smaller than the diameter of the isolated electrode portion, so that an annular area of the isolated electrode portion is left between the opening and the isolation gap. The internal wall surface of the first via and the annular electrode area are plated with a conductive metallization layer, which forms a first contact seat that is conductively connected by the metallized surface of the first via with the upper electrode. A first contact element is fixed to the first contact seat.

Abstract: An environmentally sound apparatus and method for automatically extracting fluids such as lubricating fluids from a target reservoir such as a crankcase for a vehicle engine, and injecting the proper type and quantity of fresh fluid into the reservoir is disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more sources of lubricating fluid, a waste fluid tank, a pump, and a flow meter. A programmed microprocessor produces selected sequences of control signals to govern the flow of fluid among the fluid sources, the waste fluid tank, and the target reservoir in response to input identification information and signals produced by a flow monitoring pulse meter. Input identification information is compared with data in a stored database to determine the correct type and quantity of fresh fluid to inject. Operator identification information is compared with a stored operator database to determine what operations each operator is permitted to perform.

Abstract: A fitted sheet includes a sheet body portion made of a flexible sheet material. The body is generally rectangular in shape, defining a first end, two sides and a second end opposite to the first end. A pair of generally triangular slots is formed in the first end. The triangular slots being disposed substantially symmetrically either side of a longitudinal axis (12) passing through the center of the first end and the center of the second end, and they are spaced apart a distance X. The triangular slots define an open end and two opposite sides, each side having an approximate length Y wherein the length Y is the same order of magnitude as length X. The opposed sides of each triangular slot (28A, 28B), (30A, 30B) are stitched to provide an engagement with the end of a suitably sized mattress. The area of sheet adjacent the engaged mattress end is not held against the upper surface of the mattress, so that the sheet can pivot away from the mattress.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating the transmission of sound from sound sources to the ear canals of a listener encompasses novel head-related transfer functions (HTFs), novel methods of measuring and processing HTFs, and novel methods of changing or maintaining the directions of the sound sources as perceived by the listener. The measurement methods enable the measurement and construction of HTFs for which the time domain descriptions are surprisingly short, and for which the differences between listeners are surprisingly small. The novel HTFs can be exploited in any application concerning the simulation of sound transmission, measurement, simulation, or reproduction. The invention is particularly advantageous in the field of binaural synthesis, specifically, the creation, by means of two sound sources, of the perception in the listener of listening to sound generated by a multichannel sound system.

Abstract: An expedient and simplified uninterrupted power-supplying apparatus is provided. Such apparatus includes a power-storing device for storing an electric signal in a first instance and releasing the electric signal in a second instance, an AC/DC converting device for converting an AC signal provided by the power source into a DC signal, a DC/DC converting device for receiving the DC signal, and generating the uninterrupted power and storing the electric signal in the power-storing device in response to a voltage thereof in the first instance, and receiving the released electric signal and generating the uninterrupted power in the second instance, and a controlling device for controlling the DC/DC converting device to store the electric signal in the power-storing device and making the AC/DC converting device vary the DC signal in response to the voltage of the power-storing device. The invention also discloses a method for supplying an uninterrupted power.

Abstract: A reinforcement ring (10) for rotating bodies, for example commutators, comprises at least one metal ring (12) having a rectangular cross-section and a fiberglass ring (14) having a rectangular cross-section, the metal ring and the fiberglass ring both being connected at their end faces to form a unit.

Abstract: This invention discloses isolated DNA sequences encoding a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, particularly DNA sequences isolated from Cuphea lanceolata. The invention also describes genomic clones from Cuphea lanceolata which contain the complete gene for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase including promoter sequences. The DNA sequences and clones of the invention are useful for the production of transgenic plants.