Abstract: A method is provided for making an ultrasonic transducer particularly useful in medical imaging. The transducer includes a transducer body having a major front surface for radiating ultrasonic energy to a propagation medium and is formed by a piezoelectric member having a curved shape including a curved front surface. The curved shape is produced by deforming a planar piezoelectric composite member to produce the desired curvature and retaining the curvature using suction forces. A graded frequency region is created by grinding the curved front surface of the piezoelectric element along a grinding plane. This region is defined by the area of intersection of the grinding plane and the front surface of the curved piezoelectric member and in different implementations of the method, covers all or less than all of the total front surface.

Abstract: A particulate food preparation aroma composition and dehydrated food or beverage composition including the particulate preparation aroma composition. The particulate composition includes a food aromatizing composition which comprises a volatile characterizing food aroma constituent other than a natural essential oil and a volatile organic carrier which is in the liquid state at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure and has a vapor pressure of at least 0.01 mm Hg at 25° C., a boiling point in the range of 25 to 250° C., a density of less than 1.0 g/cc at 25° C., and water solubility of not more than about 10% at 25° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device for orthopedic applications, in which at least one coupling member is mounted in the connecting rod of, or the guiding rod for, the clamping members, intended for receiving orthopedic pins, which coupling member can be brought into a rigid or a flexible coupling position. Further, preferably it has been provided for, that in the flexible coupling position, the flexibility can be adjusted across a certain range.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a number of ball-shaped terminals provided on one main surface of the board. Each of the ball-shaped terminals includes a metallic ball brazed on a pad provided on the main surface of the board. A thin gold layer is deposited by plating on the surface of the metallic ball.

Abstract: A quick-setting gel mix suitable for preparing dessert gels contains sodium and/or potassium alginate and a slowly-soluble calcium salt, with the calcium salt being incorporated in a crystalline sugar product comprised of aggregates of fondant-size sugar crystals. Preferably the mix contains an anti-oxidant, such as ascorbic acid, and a catalyst, such as copper gluconate, in amounts effective to promote clarity with the gel.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end walls with an acoustic driver positioned between the end walls, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end walls. Each end wall close one end of flared open ended pipe waveguides and is mechanically coupled to one end of a piezoelectric acoustic driver. The flared pipe waveguides extend outward from the driver and have a larger diameter at their open ends than at the end walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packing device for CRT funnels vertically stacked over and over, receiving a plurality of CRT funnels, comprising a planar supporter having a plurality of through holes, each through hole allowing a neck of the funnel to be inserted therethrough; a pair of first inner walls formed in opposite sides of the supporter, being able to be folded relative to the planar surface of the supporter; and a pair of second inner walls formed in opposite sides of the supporter, being able to be folded relative to the planar surface of the supporter together with the first inner walls, a plurality of foldable lines being formed in at least one of the first and second inner walls, allowing the first and second inner walls to be folded relative to the planar surface of the supporter. With this configuration, there is provided a packing device for CRT funnels having a stiffness enough to support the CRT funnels while the funnels are being transferred, and being stored with reduced volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for image sharpening in confocal microscopy or endoscopy observation, the method comprising: collecting true confocal return light from an observational field of an object; focussing the true confocal return light into a core of a fiber wave-guide; collecting near confocal return light from a volume partially overlapping the observational field; focussing the near confocal return light so as to be transmitted principally in a cladding of the fiber wave-guide; separately detecting the true confocal return light and the near confocal return light to produce a true confocal output signal and a near confocal output signal; and adjusting the true confocal output signal on the basis of the near confocal output signal to substantially eliminate from the true confocal output signal a component due to the near confocal output signal; whereby the effective volume of the observational field is reduced and the resolution is effectively increased.

Abstract: A head assembly is provided which is adapted to be connected to the output shaft of a motor. The assembly is used in providing a cloud of liquid wax for coating foodstuffs and includes a collector coaxially attached to the motor output shaft. An internal wall of a dispensing shroud surrounds the collector. A housing is attached to the motor and coupled to a liquid wax source. A delivery tube, which extends from the housing to the collector within the shroud, has an aperture at one end positioned in close proximity to the collector. The liquid wax flows down the tube to form a bead on the collector to be centrifugally dispensed against the internal shroud wall and to run down the shroud to be expelled as a mist.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector comprising a pair of spaced apart end walls with an acoustic driver positioned between the end walls, the driver having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the end walls. The projector has a one piece thin wall inwardly concavely shaped shell with corrugations running in the axial direction surrounding the driver and mechanically coupled to the end walls. An open ended tubular waveguide (pipe) is connected to each end wall of the projector and extend outward forming a flextensional resonant pipe projector.

Abstract: Diamond particles are provided having a nominal size of 5 &mgr;m or less by D50 measurement and which comprise an explicit thermal effect such as a minute crack in the crystal structure due to a heat treatment at a temperature at least of 1000° C. The diamond particles include diamond converted non-diamond carbon in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight relative to the whole diamond particle. A method for synthesizing the diamond particles includes providing diamond particles having a primary particle D50 average size of 50 nm or greater, subjecting the diamond particles to a heat treatment at a temperature of at least 1000° C. in either a non-oxidizing atmosphere or in a vacuum, and converting the diamond partly to non-diamond carbon.

Abstract: At least one transverse blade (19) is mounted on one end of the body of the pressing device (12) which cyclically acts on the packaging film (1) so as to fix it to an underlying tearing strip (7) which is directed towards the film with an adhesive surface and is supported by a conveyor belt (3), said blade (19) cutting and dividing up to the required dimension the said tearing strip from the continuous tape from which the strip itself is obtained, while the said belt acts as a cutter counter-piece. Auxiliary blades (21, 121) are also mounted laterally and parallel on one end of the body of the pressing device, said blades (21, 121), during the active working phase of the said pressing device, interfering with the edge of the packaging film in order to form, on the latter, incisions located on the sides of the front gripping end of the tearing strip, in order to facilitate tearing of the packaging when the said strip (7) is operated.

Abstract: A hose bending clamp (10) is described for holding a hose in a desired bent shape. The clamp (10) includes a coil 14 designed to slop over the outside over a section of hose to be bent. Each of the turns (12) of the coil are designed to constrain the hose so as to inhibit it from spreading or kinking as it is forced into the desired shape. A malleable spine (16) is provided in connection with the coil (14) and is designed to bend with the hose into the desired shape and to hold the shape when released.

Abstract: Containers or linings formed from thermoplastic polymeric materials are provided which are suitable for use in transport and storage of aqueous oxidizing agents and the thermoplastic polymeric materials themselves. The thermoplastic polymeric materials such as polyethylene, forming the container or linings are stabilized against embrittlement caused by interaction with peracid solutions they contact by the incorporation of a thioether and preferably a hindered phenol anti-oxidant. The thioether particularly comprises additionally a hindered phenol and is, for example, a thiobisphenol. The stored peracid solutions exhibited improved storage stability. The containers or linings are particularly suitable for storing or transporting aqueous peracid solutions in locations enjoying relatively high ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a relatively stable magnetic photocatalyst comprising an insulated magnetite core coated with a layer of photoactive titanium dioxide. In one example the insulation layer is silicon dioxide which blocks direct electrical contact between the titanium dioxide and the magnetite.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for improving vacuum in a very high vacuum system (ultrahigh vacuum) comprising a metal chamber releasing gas at its surface, consisting of a coating deposited on at least almost the whole surface of the metal wall defining the chamber. The invention is characterised in that the coating further comprises at least an undercoat of non-evaporating getter deposited on said surface of the metal wall defining the chamber and, on this undercoat, at least a thin film of at least a catalyst selected among ruthenium and/or rhodium and/or palladium and/or osmium and/or iridium and/or platinum and/or an alloy containing at least one of those.

Abstract: In a snowmobile track suspension, the slide frame is supported upon downwardly and rearwardly angled front and rear suspension arm assemblies. The suspension arm assemblies are of similar construction, length, and orientation, having upper ends connected to fixed pivots in the snowmobile chassis and lower ends pivoted to the slide frame. The lower end of the rear suspension arm assembly has a pivot mount that is movable longitudinally of the slide frame. Movement in the forwards direction being blocked by an abutment which ensures that during suspension travel the front end of the slide frame cannot move higher than the rear end thereof.