Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an orthodontic archform and forming an archwire. The method includes setting up separated model teeth in a setup fixture to mutually locate the brackets relative to the model teeth, with the teeth supported on a setup plate structure. The model teeth are transferred on the setup plate structures to an alignment fixture and positioned in a curved archform. An archwire forming fixture is substituted for the teeth on the alignment fixture, an archwire is clamped in an archwire slot in this assembly, and then heat treated. Insulative shaping pins are positioned along the archwire to add compound curves or loops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling urinary incontinence in a patient includes positioning a reservoir containing fluid subcutaneously over the patient's anterior pubis; an inflatable compression balloon between the patient's posterior pubic symphysis and urethra; and a conduit extending over the pubis for fluid communication between said reservoir and said compression balloon. The compression balloon is inflated in response to fluid flow from said reservoir, when manually compressed by the patient. A manually releasable, one-way valve positioned in the conduit between said reservoir and said compression means retains fluid in the compression balloon under pressure and is externally actuable by the patient for equilibrating pressure in the reservoir and compression balloons to permit voiding. The bladder of the patient is elevated and connected anteriorly to the patient's abdominal wall by a felt matrix or mesh patch affixed to the bladder to effectively lengthen and stabilize the urethra.

Abstract: To realize a small-sized differential gear provided with both differential limiting and locking functions simultaneously without markedly modifying the conventional differential case, the differential gear comprises a differential mechanism having a differential case, pinion shafts, pinion gears, two side gears, etc.; two frictional multiplate clutches disposed between the two side gears and two inner side wall surfaces of the differential case, respectively for limiting differential function; a lock clutch disposed within the differential case for generating two opposite direction thrust forces to engage said limit multiplate clutches into engagement and further locking the differential function; and actuator for actuating the lock clutch from outside of the differential case.

Abstract: A bracket having a closure slot extending through both sides of the bracket body across an archwire slot for a closure member to secure an archwire. The bracket body is compact, with a continuous profile, and the closure member ends are contained within the closure slot, so that a collar for an auxiliary attachment can be mounted on the bracket. The bracket body has an internal shoulder extending across one side of the closure slot. The closure member is a lengthwise-folded flat spring having a free end positioned near one end and biased to engage the shoulder when closed. A locking tab cooperates with the free end to lock the closure member closed. Depressing the free end allows it to pass through an escape notch in the internal shoulder to slide the closure member to an open position. Intermediate ears positioned near the opposite end engage the shoulder when open. The free end springs outward to hold the member open. The bracket body has a recessed base to space the archwire slot close to a bonding pad.

Abstract: A method of in situ monitoring of a body of a fluid stored in a tank or groundwater or vadose zone gases in a well for the presence of selected chemical species uses a probe insertable into the well or tank via a cable and having electrical apparatus for exciting selected chemical species in the body of fluid. The probe can have a pair of electrodes for initiating a spark or a plasma cell for maintaining a plasma to excite the selected chemical species. The probe also has optical apparatus for receiving optical emissions emitted by the excited species and optically transmitting the emissions via the cable to an analysis location outside the well. The analysis includes detecting a selected wavelength in the emissions indicative of the presence of the selected chemical species.

Abstract: A grinding machine for sharpening toothed saws includes a saw blade holder for rotatably holding a saw. A pneumatic or hydraulic ram drives a cam back and forth in one of a number of preselected grooves in a rotatable cam plate for driving a pawl in an arcuate path for rotating the saw blade. Each saw tooth is thus advanced, one tooth at a time, through a grinding position in which a rotating grindstone sharpens the face or top of the saw tooth. The position of the grinder head arm is adjustable through an arc of about 105.degree. to permit top and face grinding without turning over the grindstone or the spindle arm on which the grindstone is mounted. The head arm is tiltably mounted on a heavy plate and releasably secured to the periphery of the plate for stability.

Abstract: A hydraulic positioning means is provided which includes means for selectively allowing or prohibiting the flow of the first hydraulic fluid under the operating pressure. It also includes means in the hydraulic positioning means for selectively positioning the workpiece to a plurality of predetermined locations for performing work operations thereon in response to allowing or prohibiting the flow of the first pressurized hydraulic fluid under the operating pressure. Means are also furnished for supplying the first pressurized fluid under the operating pressure to the hydraulic positioning means for such selective positioning of the workpiece. First fluid conduit means transfer the first pressurized fluid at said operating pressure from the pressurized fluid supply means to the hydraulic positioning means. A hydraulic impact load cushioning means is also bifurcatedly provided.

Abstract: A squeegee has a handle consisting of a straight elongate cylindrical member having a pair of elongate blades mounted along one side, flush with one end of the handle and protruding beyond the opposite end. The blades each have a rigid base portion received in one of a pair of channels and a flexible distal portion protruding therefrom for wiping a surface. The blades are integrally formed in a shallow S-shaped cross section and the channels are formed with parallel curved sidewalls conforming to the curvature of a portion of the width of the blade.

Abstract: Dissociations of multiple-charged ions are detected and analyzed by charge-separation tandem mass spectrometry. Analyte molecules are ionized to form multiple-charged parent ions. A particular charge parent ion state is selected in a first-stage mass spectrometer and its mass-to-charge ratio (M/Z) is detected to determine its mass and charge. The selected parent ions are then dissociated, each into a plurality of fragments including a set of daughter ions each having a mass of at least one molecular weight and a charge of at least one. Sets of daughter ions resulting from the dissociation of one parent ion (sibling ions) vary in number but typically include two to four ions, one or more multiply-charged. A second stage mass spectrometer detects mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the daughter ions and a temporal or temporo-spatial relationship among them. This relationship is used to correlate the daughter ions to determine which (m/z) ratios belong to a set of sibling ions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for axially and externally mounting an expandable sleeve onto, and dismounting the sleeve from, a cylinder. The subject method utilizes an external fluid-transmission means for expanding the diameter of the expandable sleeve by introducing a fluid capable of expanding the sleeve between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the cylinder. The requisite sleeve expansion is accomplished without transmitting fluid from within the cylinder during the mounting and dismounting operations. The sleeve is contractable by the removal of the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention comprises devices for receiving a plurality of elongated workpieces, devices for automatically raising the workpieces, devices for forming a single layer of a predetermined number of workpieces, devices for controlling the height and width of a stack, devices for assembling layers of workpieces into a stack of predetermined height and width, and devices for supporting and positioning the stack during formation. The self-contained machine of this invention is designed for producing a stack of elongate, stackable workpieces. The machine comprises devices for receiving the elongate, stackable workpieces and for conveying the workpieces in a generally vertical upward direction to an elevated point above the surface on which the stacking machine is supported. Vertical conveyance of the work pieces requires the use of a minimum lateral space for conducting that operation as opposed to armtype hoisting stackers in which the arm is extended and takes up a significant amount of lateral space.

Abstract: A compensation method and apparatus for enhancing single-ended to differential conversion includes a compensation network that is coupled between the single-ended voltage input and the bias terminal of a differential stage. The compensation network has an impedance substantially equal to the impedance presented by the bias circuit used to bias the differential stage. Accordingly, the compensation network provides a current that substantially cancels the signal tail current supplied to the bias terminal of the differential stage, resulting in a balanced differential output. The compensation network may be AC coupled from the single-ended voltage input to the bias terminal in order to preserve the original DC operating condition. The compensation network may be chosen to provide more cancelling current at higher operating frequencies. Additionally, the compensation network can be configured to match a bias circuit built from resistors, transistors, current mirrors, or the like.

Abstract: A rotary shear type shredder for shredding a wide range of materials, including flat and sheet materials has a plurality of spaced, intermeshed coacting cutter discs mounted for counterrotation on a parallel shaft. Each disc has a single cutter hook and a single rectangular cutter block fixedly mounted on opposite circumferential sides thereof. The hooks and blocks are arranged to form a spiral of cutters and hooks mounted on each shaft a 180 degrees apart and positioned so that blocks on one shaft feed material to hooks on the other shaft. The cutter blocks have a pair of right-angle cutter edges on both front and back sides for coacting with discs and hooks when rotated in a forward direction and coacting with cleaning fingers when reversed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for axially, externally mounting a expandable sleeve onto, and dismounting a expandable sleeve from, a cylinder, comprises an external fluid-transmission means which comprises a plurality of sections. These sections are attachable and detachable from each other for facilitating engagement and disengagement of the external fluid-transmission means with respect to the sleeve. In one form of this invention, the external fluid-transmission means sections are connected to each other at one of its respective ends, typically pivotally connected to each other. The other end of each the fluid-transmission means sections are then movable in an arcuate path between a closed position in which the fluid-transmission means section ends are in engagement with each other, and an open position in which the fluid-transmission means section ends are in disengagement with each other.

Abstract: Stress-induced deformation, and the damage resulting therefrom, increases with film thickness. The overcoming of excessive stress by the use of the film material of the present invention, permits the formation of thick films that are necessary for certain of the above described applications. The most likely use for the subject film materials, other than their specialized views as an optical film, is for microelectronic packaging of components on silicon substrates.In general, the subject Si-Al-O-N films have excellent adherence to the underlying substrate, a high degree of hardness and durability, and are excellent insulators. Prior art elevated temperature deposition processes cannot meet the microelectronic packaging temperature formation constraints. The process of the present invention is conducted under non-elevated temperature conditions, typically 500# C. or less.

Abstract: A bipolar VLSI process includes masking and patterning, implanting a P+ channel stop (32) and locally oxidizing a P-doped silicon substrate (21) to define a collector region, implanting an N-type collector (43) and diffusing the implants (40, 44). Device emitter, collector and base contact features (64, 66, 68) are photolithographically defined by two openings (54, 56) spaced lengthwise along the collector region. Low resistivity P- and N-type regions (74, 80) are implanted in the substrate in the openings and covered by local oxidation (86, 88). The collector region is preferably formed in a keyhole shape with a wide collector contact feature (66B) and adjoining region 80B and narrow base contact (68B) and emitter (64B) features and intervening region (74B). The substrate (22) is exposed in the emitter and contact features. A single polysilicon layer (94) is deposited, selectively doped and oxidized to form separate base, collector and emitter contacts (94) and a triple diffused NPN transistor (116, 92, 40).