Abstract: Herein disclosed is a regenerative heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical core casing and a stack body core formed by a plurality of circular mesh plates each having fluid passage holes and stacked on one another to form fluid passageways. The stack body core is housed in the core casing to have a fluid cooling medium introduced into the fluid passageways to carry out heat exchange between the stack body core and the fluid cooling medium. Each of the mesh plates has on its outer periphery a reference mark portion positioned with respect to the fluid passage holes, and the mesh plates collectively form a row of reference mark portions indicative of the form of each of the fluid passageways. The row of reference mark portions enables to easily modify or adjust the shapes of the fluid passageways of the stack body core by relatively rotating the mesh plates with reference to the reference mark portions.

Abstract: In a near infrared absorbance measurement instrument, an attenuated internal reflectance probe comprises a quartz rod having an inexpensive low purity central core surrounded by two high purity quartz layers. Narrow band infrared light is transmitted axially through the outer layer to cause the light to undergo total internal reflection from the inner and outer surfaces of the outer layer. A near infrared light detector measures the light transmitted through the outer layer to obtain a measurement of the absorbance of the fluid in contact with the outer surface of the outer layer without any interference from suspended particles or bubbles in the fluid being measured.

Abstract: A yarn heating apparatus, interposed between a false twist apparatus imparting twist to a synthetic fiber yarn and a yarn feed apparatus feeding the synthetic fiber yarn to the false twist apparatus, is designed to heat the synthetic fiber yarn traveling on a yarn travel path extending from the yarn feed apparatus to the false twist apparatus. The yarn travel path includes a twist existence path section through which the twist imparted to the synthetic fiber yarn extends continuously. The yarn heating apparatus comprises a yarn heat member unit formed with a yarn heat channel defining in part the twist existence path section of the yarn travel path for heating the synthetic fiber yarn passing through the yarn heat channel, and a plurality of yarn guide members located in the yarn heat channel of the yarn heat member unit in spaced relationship to one another for guiding the synthetic fiber yarn through the yarn heat channel of the yarn heat member unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides ceramic dielectrics for use in electronic components and the subsequent methods of forming them. In the ceramic dielectrics, CaTiO.sub.3 or MgTiO.sub.3 and/or SrTiO.sub.3 are incorporated in a Ba(Zn.sub.1/3, Ta.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -base or a Ba(Mg.sub.1/3, Ta.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -base ceramics. In addition, SiO.sub.2 and/or B.sub.2 O.sub.3, MnO and/or ZnO may be added as additives. The ceramic dielectrics have large unloaded Q-value and high relative dielectric constant, and a small temperature coefficient of resonant frequency.Each of the ceramic dielectrics can be easily formed at a lower sintering temperature (1200.degree..about.1650.degree. C.) than usual.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for switching without leaks a double seat valve comprising radial sealing elements shaped in a slide-shaped closure member (3). In order to ensure leakfree switching, in a first embodiment of the process, radial sealing elements (1, 1*) are guided and remain sealed in a cylindrical valve seat surface (5) while the valve is opened. Sealing elements (2, 2*) provided in a second closure member (4) sealingly engage an end section (E) of the radial sealing elements (1, 1*) and the end section (E) is sealing surrounded by the sealing means (2) when the valve is further opened and when it reaches its open position.

Abstract: A differential capacitance detector comprises an integrator which has a difference between a capacitance (C.sub.S) of a sensor having the capacitance corresponding to physical or chemical quantities of an object for detection and a reference capacitance (C.sub.R) as constants, and an oscillation circuit which determines an oscillation frequency by the difference between the two capacitances (C.sub.S and C.sub.R). The differential capacitance detector can detect or measure various kinds of physical or chemical quantities, even if the change of sensor capacitance is small.

Abstract: A computer data organization method in which data is organized in a hierarchical outline with each data element in the outline having a key field in which an identifier is inserted which is unique to that data element. Data related to each data element in the hierarchical outline are stored in a relational data base table with the unique key identifier of the hierarchical data element to which it is related inserted in a key index column. To make a fresh entry, a user types an appropriate outline heading in the field presented by the hierarchical data base manager and an identifier key unique to this entry is inserted, preferably automatically.

Abstract: In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A transmitter directs a narrow RF ultrasonic beam through a body cavity to a receiver on the other side of the cavity. The beam is steered to be intercepted by audio signal sources in the body cavity, such as a fetal heart or multiple fetal hearts, which modulate the ultrasonic beam. The received parametric beam is demodulated and filtered to provide a relatively noise free audio reproduction of an audio signal source. In one embodiment, two transmitters are steered independently to direct respective beams to respective receivers to produce two signals and, thus, a binaural audio reproduction of an audio signal source. The audio reproduction is at a maximum when the two beams intersect at the audio signal source.

Abstract: For sealingly joining an underroof to a skylight or another roof installation a fitting collar is provided comprising a film element (7, 8) with a substantially U-shaped plane configuration with a cutout, at the sides of which there are flange parts (9, 10) for attachment of the fitting collar to mutually adjoined exterior sides (1-4) of the main frame structure of the window or the roof installation, in such manner that the film element is brought to extend substantially in parallel with the roof surface, in order to connect with adjacent parts (5, 6) of the underroof.

Abstract: A fastener for holding panels together includes a grommet for engaging a first panel, a stud received in the grommet, and a receptacle for securement to a second panel, wherein the receptacle includes a body having an internally threaded bore, an externally threaded barrel member in engagement with the threads of the bore, curved slots in the barrel member for receiving a cross pin of the stud, and a mechanical arrangement for selectively locking the barrel member from movement relative to the body. The grommet may include diametrically opposed slots having open ends extending through an end of the grommet for receiving the cross pin of the stud.

Abstract: A motion estimation method and a motion estimation apparatus for calculating a motion vector to estimate a current picture based on a reference picture where the current picture is partially formed by a current block represented by pel values. The reference picture is partially formed by a search window represented by pel values and having a plurality of candidate blocks. There are provided processor elements and side register units arranged in the form of a matrix array. The pel values of the search window are fed to the processor elements and the side register units. The pel values of the current block are fed to the processor elements. Between the processor elements and the side register units, are shifted pel values of the search window. The processor elements are designed to calculate distortion values each indicative of a difference between the current block and each of the candidate blocks on the basis of the received pel values of the search window and the received pel values of the current block.

Abstract: A hanger display card for jewelry is made entirely from one piece of paper, having a hanger portion to which a hot-melt adhesive is adhered to stiffen and maintain the shape of the hanger portion. Information including machine-readable type information is applied to sheets to be formed into the hanger display cards, and sheets on which the information is not, in fact, machine readable are culled.

Abstract: In a blast head for a vacuum blasting operation, abrasive particles in a stream of compressed air are directed against a work surface and removed by vacuum. Ambient air is directed into the blast head upstream of the work surface to reduce frictional forces between the blast head and the work surface due to the vacuum. The ambient air is admitted through a one-way spring biased valve. The flow of ambient air into the blast head is controllable by adjusting the spring force in the valve.

Abstract: A surgical device is provided to reduce the size of and relieve the pressure within an aneurysm. The surgical device is comprised of catheter tubing containing a spring wound under stress. The catheter is inserted through the aneurysm to be repaired and the catheter is then pulled back leaving the spring to expand within the aneurysm. The spring has a one-way helical flap mounted between the spring coils. The flap allows the blood to flow from the swollen part of the aneurysm but not to enter it.

Abstract: A data protection and recovery system for an energy controller for a water heater is disclosed. The energy controller is a microprocessor based system which includes a central processing unit, volatile and non-volatile memories, and a clock. It functions to energize the water heater only during a certain period of the day. During normal operation of the system, the system uses the volatile memory as a workspace, and normally copies data in the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory. The system senses electrical disturbances, such as power surges, and prevents the writing of any data to the non-volatile memory components during the electrical disturbance. After the electrical disturbance subsides, the system checks the integrity of the data written to the volatile memory, and if it was not corrupted by the electrical disturbance, the data is then written to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An infrared spectroscopy instrument having a transflectance type probe with an adjustable path length is disclosed. The instrument is adaptable to take both reflectivity and transmission type measurements. According to a method of use of the instrument discloses a material undergoing a change in viscosity and optical density can be measured by appropriately adjusting the path length to allow a sample of the material to enter. At a first interval, a first measurement is made using the instrument according to a transmission protocol. A second measurement is made of the sample when the sample is viscous and optically dense at a second interval using the same instrument according to a reflectivity measurement protocol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the minimization of the development of off flavor or off odor in caramel colored beverages by hydrogenation of the caramel color prior to incorporation into the beverage.