Abstract: The improved pulse oximeter preprocesses the sets of red and infrared signals received from the probe. The set of pairs of processed red and infrared data points are fitted to a linear equation to compute the slope of the best fit line through these data points and account for noise in both of these sets of data points. A measure of the linearity of the input data points, if less than a predetermined threshold, indicates that a distorted signal has been received from the probe. The computed slope of the best fit line is converted to a RRatio which is used in a empirical calibration formula to compute the average SpO.sub.2 value.

Abstract: A method of heating a melt containing an oxidizable substance in which a fuel is burned with an oxidant by projecting fuel oxidant jets over the melt. The fuel and the oxidant jets have a fuel jet momentum and an oxidant jet momentum, respectively. The oxidant jet produces a top oxidation layer on the top surface of the melt and such top oxidation layer has a thickness. The oxidant jet momentum is adjusted to be below a threshold momentum at which the top oxidation layer is forces aside by the oxidant jet to expose fresh melt that potentially can be oxidized and can increase the thickness of the top oxidation layer. The fuel-jet momentum is adjusted so that it is greater than the oxidant jet momentum to draw the oxidant jet towards the fuel jet and thereby forms a desired combustible mixture in a mixing layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for incinerating waste whose ease of burning may vary form batch to batch, wherein burning is conducted in a main combustion region to form combustion products containing combustibles and in a secondary combustion zone which is supplied with oxygen at a rate during a first period of time which is independent of the composition of the combustion products or resulting flue gas and at a rate during a second period of time which is determined as a function of the concentration of at least one component of the combustion products or flue gas.

Abstract: Novel diquaternary polypeptides possessing skeletal muscle relaxation activity represented by the formulae: ##STR1## wherein: R is lower alkyl; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are lower alkyl or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring having 5 to 7 member atoms; R.sub.3 is lower alkyl, [N,N-di(lower alkyl)-3-piperidinium].sup.(+), or [N,N-di(lower alkyl)-4-piperidinium].sup.(+) R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, benzyl or fluorenylmethyl; A.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of trans-4-acetoxyproline, phenylalanine, glutamic acid-.gamma.-methyl ester, or proline; AA.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine, leucine, 3-(2-naphthyl)alanine, 3-(1-naphthyl)alanine, and 3-cyclohexylalanine; AA.sub.3 is proline when R.sub.3 is [N,N-di(lower alkyl)-3-piperidinium].sup.(+) or [N,N-di(lower alkyl)-4-piperidinium].sup.(+), and is Orn(.delta.-N.sup.(+) --R--R.sub.1 --R.sub.2) or Lys(.epsilon.-N.sup.(+) --R--R.sub.1 --R.

Abstract: The twice scaled waveform display apparatus combines a twice scaled factor indication with the autoscaled waveform display so that an input data quality indication is produced based on factors such as signal strength, wherein the twice scaled factor is used to modulate the size of the display that is presented to the user. Thus, the generated waveform occupies a predetermined portion of the display when the signal strength and/or other input data qualities are at an acceptable level. The size of the waveform presented to the user on the display is reduced in magnitude when there is a degradation in the input signal magnitude or other quality factors.

Abstract: An air separation apparatus and method for producing a gaseous oxygen product at a delivery pressure. A, filtered, compressed and purified air stream is formed and preferably divided into first and second air streams. The air contained within the first air stream is separated by a low temperature rectification process operating in accordance with a Claude cycle to produce liquid oxygen in a lower pressure column with a double column air separation unit. A Claude expander expands at least a major portion of the air contained within the first air stream into the high pressure column. The second air stream is compressed and partially cooled and is then expanded with the performance of work which is in turn applied to the work of compression of the second air stream. Liquid oxygen is pumped from the lower pressure column to substantially the delivery pressure and is vaporized within a mixing column against the second air stream which is also introduced into the mixing column.

Abstract: An ethene stream which contains ethane as an impurity or a propene stream which contains propane as an impurity is hydrated with water vapor in the presence of a hydration catalyst to produce ethanol or isopropanol, respectively. After removal of the alcohol the gaseous product stream is subjected to adsorption, thereby producing an ethene-enriched stream or a propene-enriched stream. The ethene-enriched stream or the propene-enriched stream is recycled to the hydration reactor.

Abstract: A continuous pressure driven adsorption process for separating a multi-component gaseous mixture. In accordance with the method, the multi-component gaseous mixture is passed through a first portion of the adsorbent to adsorb one or more preferentially adsorbed components while a second portion of the adsorbent is regenerated. The multi-component mixture is passed through the first portion of the adsorbent in sections and the second portion of the adsorbent is regenerated in sections. The sections forming the first portion of the adsorbent become successively less saturated and the sections forming the second portion of the adsorbent becomes successively more concentrated in the more preferentially adsorbed component. A product stream is expelled from the less saturated section of the first portion of the adsorbent. The product stream is enriched in the less preferentially adsorbed component(s).

Abstract: A process for the plasma enhanced vapor deposition of a silicon-containing compound having one to three Si atoms onto a surface of glass, mirror, microchip or polymer substrates in flat or complex shape to provide thereon anti-fog and/or anti-scratch coating(s) is provided. The surface modifying step is conducted with a plasma composition derived from a gas stream consisting essentially of from about 80 to 40 mole percent N.sub.2 O and from about 20 to 60 mole percent CO.sub.2.

Abstract: A device for transmitting a heating or cooling medium to a moving substrate which includes at least one continuous channel traversing at least a major portion of the width of the moving substrate for converting a multidirectional flow of the heating or cooling medium into a unidirectional flow, a device for removing and/or preventing the presence of foreign matter within the channel, and ovens and freezers employing the same.

Abstract: Nitrogen is separated from a first stream of compressed air in a higher pressure rectification column and from a second stream of compressed air in an intermediate pressure rectification column. Oxygen-enriched liquid is taken from the columns and separated in a lower pressure rectification column. An impure oxygen product is withdrawn in liquid state from the lower pressure column through an outlet. A part of the first air stream is condensed in a first condenser-reboiler, and a part of the second air stream is condensed in a third condenser-reboiler. Nitrogen separated in the higher pressure rectification column is condensed in a second condenser-reboiler, and nitrogen separated in the intermediate pressure rectification column is condensed in a fourth condenser-reboiler. The resulting nitrogen condensate is used as reflux in the columns. The condenser-reboilers provide reboil for the lower pressure rectification column.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor contact column comprising a column shell and one or more beds of structured packing located within the column shell. Each bed of structured packing includes a plurality of vertical stacks which are formed of at least two upper and lower levels of structured packing. The structured packing is partitioned to form the vertical stacks. When the structured packing is formed from corrugated sheet material, the vertical stacks can also be spaced from one another with the corrugated sheets making up the structured packing rotated 90.degree. with respect to boarding vertical stacks of structured packing. The partitions or the rotated arrangement of the packing inhibit liquid migration in a transverse, horizontal direction of the column. This promotes constant liquid and vapor flow characteristics through each of the vertical stacks of structured packing to resist widespread liquid channeling throughout the column.

Abstract: A nitrogen PSA system uses a back-fill step only on start-up conditions or when a minor fault has caused the plant to temporarily lose purity. The plant utilizes an oxygen analyzer which controls valves allowing the initiation and cancellation of the back-fill step.

Abstract: A method treating effluent gases including exposing the gases to silicon or a silicon rich alloy or substances at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: An improved oxygen-enhanced Claus process for the recovery of sulphur from an acid gas comprising hydrogen sulphide as a furnace in which a part of the hydrogen sulphide content of the acid gas is burned to form sulphur dioxide. The sulphur dioxide then reacts with residual hydrogen sulphide to form sulphur vapor which is condensed out of the resulting gas mixture. One part of the residual gas mixture is then subjected to catalytic stages to bring the reaction between the hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide close to completion. The improvement resides in sending a second part of the gas mixture to an incinerator to convert all its hydrogen sulphide content to sulphur dioxide. After removal of water, the sulphur dioxide is returned to the furnace.

Abstract: A method of forming a seamless cylinder shell in which a layer of nickel is electroplated on a steel sheet so that a composite sheet is formed. The composite sheet is then preferably cut into a circular blank before further processing. The circular blank is subjected to an oxalic acid pretreatment for the nickel side and a zinc phosphate pretreatment for the steel side to retain a lubricant on the two opposed surfaces thereof and is thereafter lubricated with the lubricant. The circular blank is preferably cupped, relubricated, and drawn into the seamless cylinder shell. The seamless cylinder shell can be finished into a seamless gas cylinder by spinning one end of the cylinder into a cylinder head, internally threading the formed cylinder head, and then heat treating the cylinder.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated system for driving an inductive load. In the system, a switched current is supplied to the load. A duty cycle of the switched current is derived from a pulse width modulation controller and the amplitude of the switched current is determined. A multiplier device is provided to process the amplitude of the current supplied to a driver stage and to derive, in conjunction with the duty cycle, the load current.

Abstract: An infant care center or infant care warmer having as it source of heat, an infrared emitter that is located above the infant bed and which is relatively small in dimensions so as to not impede the access to the infant by attending personnel at any time, including when X-rays are being taken to the infant. The emitter is contained in a sealed emitter assembly and includes a lens that focuses and directs the infrared radiation to a desired footprint on the infant bed. In a specific embodiment, the infrared emitter is shaped generally in the form of a parabola and a honeycomb material comprising a plurality of hexagonal openings receives the infrared radiation from the parabolic shaped emitter and redirects the radiation into a desired pattern toward the infant bed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for chilling a food product which includes a food distribution device having a pair of circular members including at least one spaced-apart partition defining a food receiving area; the circular members rotating to cause food delivered to the food product receiving area to fall into a food storage compartment in a uniform manner; and a cryogen releasing device connected to one of the circular members which uniformly distributes a cryogenic substance to the food product within the food storage compartment.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification method for producing a product stream from a gaseous mixture having higher and lower volatility components and heavy impurities. In accordance with the method, the mixture is separated by a cryogenic rectification process employing one or more columns having plates, trays or packing for intimately contacting ascending vapor and descending liquid streams within the column. The mixture to be separated after having been compressed is combined with the recycle stream to produce a combined stream which is purified in a prepurification unit that is designed to remove the heavy contaminants. The combined steam is divided into major and minor streams. The major stream is then cooled and separated into liquid and vapor phases. Heavy impurities concentrate in the liquid phase taken as the recycle stream, which is then pumped to a high enough pressure for vaporization of the impurities. The resulting vapor is then reduced in pressure and combined with the incoming gaseous mixture.