Abstract: Containers suitable for storage and transport of regulated medical waste, including sharps and solid and semi-solid waste, which is disposable with the waste as by incineration, are provided by low cost paper, preferably corrugated paper, boxes having inserts which provide a mouth through which the waste items may be inserted. The insert has side walls which are attached to the side walls of the box near the top thereof. The insert has notches in the side walls along its bottom. A cover panel having tabs with spacing complimentary to the spacing of the notches is placed in the box upon the bottom of the insert with the tabs in the notches. The box may be lined with a plastic bag to provide leak resistance. The bag extends between the side walls of the insert and the side walls of the box and above the top of the box. The cover may also have a sleeve of flexible plastic material. To close the container, the plastic bag is tucked in so that it lies above the bottom of the insert.

Abstract: A recombinant bacteriophage, a method for producing and selecting the recombinant bacteriophage and a method for heterologous cloning of DNA are disclosed. The recombinant bacteriophage is produced by ligating genetic fragments encoding a desired genetic trait with DNA from a bacteriophage, incubating with DNA from a second Bacillus microorganism prototrophic for a growth requirement, incubating with a host Bacillus auxotrophic for the growth requirement. Transformed host Bacillus are selected by growing the mixture on a growth medium which does not contain the growth requirement and determining the presence of the genetic trait. The recombinant bacteriophage containing the desired genetic trait is recovered from the host Bacillus by induction. Heterologous cloning can be accomplished by incubating a host Bacillus with the recombinant bacteriophage.

Abstract: A mixing system for dispersing gas or other fluids in liquid which may have a solid suspension so as to improve mass transfer to the liquid or its solids suspension while maintaining a low pattern which is substantially axial (up and down) in the tank containing the liquid thereby also facilitating mixing (blending) utilizes an (unshrouded) axial flow impeller which provides the desired single stage axial flow downwardly to the bottom of the tank and upwardly along the sidewalls of the tank with radial flow confined principally to the bottom region of the tank. A sparge system which releases the gas or other fluid in the region at the bottom of the tank where the flow is predominantly radial allows attainment of gas rates with complete dispersion of gas throughout the tank which rates are much higher (about four times as great) as when conventional sparge systems are used with axial flow impellers.

Abstract: An audio frequency (AF) track circuit whereby a railway track tuned loop transmitter operating in a dual resonant mode, for handling, two signal frequencies, can be coupled to the rails. Each frequency is conducted through a tuning unit having series and parallel branches tuned to each frequency. The track circuit using the tuned loop transmitter eliminates DC return current imbalance effects while maintaining suitably high track circuit shunting sensitivity.

Abstract: An electromechanical translator apparatus (24) which is especially suitable for use as the coarse positioner in a scanning tunneling microscope (10) (STM) which enables a specimen to be positioned with a resolution in the order of atomic distances (in the nanometer range) has a housing (26) containing a piezolectric driver in the form of a sleeve (32) surrounding a shaft (21) on one end of which the specimen (18) may be mounted. The driver sleeve (32) has an extension element (2) with clamping elements (1, 3) on opposite ends thereof and is connected and referenced to the housing at a region (4) thereon spaced from the extension element and preferably between the extension element (2) and the one of the clamping elements (1) closest to the end of the shaft (22) on which the specimen (18) is mounted (in the direction of controlled movement toward the scanning tip (16) of the STM).

Abstract: A system for metering the flow rate of air through a duct in which gates are pivotally mounted and connected together to vary the area of the duct. The gates are balanced so as to be effectively weightless. The forces on and the position of the gates correspond to the pressure and the flow rate in the duct thereby avoiding the need for air pressure transducers exposed to the pressure in the duct. The forces due to the pressure in the duct are amplified by the gates so that the pressure measurement as a function of the forces on the gates is a much more sensitive function of the flow rate through the duct than is obtainable directly in response to the pressure in the duct (for example, the velocity pressure of air as measured by pressure transducers responsive directly to the velocity pressure in the duct).

Abstract: A method for bonding of restorative materials, such as composite resins, to the surface of a tooth wherein the surface of the tooth is pretreated with a carbon dioxide laser of low energy density without damaging surrounding tissues or the underlying pulp of the tooth.

Abstract: Direct voltage measurements of electrical signals are extracted from transmission lines for display in a manner to permit such measurements with picosecond temporal and submicron spatial resolution utilizing a noncontacting electro-optic probe. The probe may have multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. The NQW structure defines an active region sufficiently small (less than a micron if desired) in width so that it can be placed between neighboring lines on an integrated circuit. A short pulse laser beam is used to sense the absorption change at the time window of interest. The electroabsorption effect in the MQW structure is a nonlinear function of the strength of the electric field. Detection can be carried out by sampling techniques to provide the measurement of the voltage or the display of the signal.

Abstract: Multiple copies of sheets produced by a copying machine or the like are sorted onto trays. The trays are arranged in a stack and are moved upwardly and downwardly to enable different sheets to be sorted onto the trays on each upward pass and downward pass of the stack. The trays have pairs of pins extending outwardly from opposite side edges into a pair of slots on upright support plates. The walls of these slots support each tray as a cantilever. One of the slots, which is closest the rear edge of the trays, is preferably larger than the other and enables any adjacent trays to be spread apart by lifting and tilting one of the trays so as to provide access between the separated trays for jam clearance and the like. A shifting mechanism moves the trays across a gap into which sheets are dispensed from the copier onto the tray at the underside of the gap. This lifting mechanism is a rotatable assembly which engages the pins and moves a tray across the gap.

Abstract: A tester system which is adapted to be plugged into the outlet receptacle of an electrical power circuit for testing for faults which would affect the capability of the circuit to provide rated output voltage at rated load, whether the output line voltage is within a selected voltage range, and whether the receptable has been properly wired to the high voltage or hot conductor, the low voltage or return conductor and to the earth grounding wire. The tester is enabled on occurrence of a plurality of alternate cycles of the AC power carried by the circuit to connect the line conductors across a measuring resistor of sufficiently low value to draw rated current from the line. An electronic switch, including an SCR, is triggered coincident with the zero crossing of the AC cycle so that a single half-cycle of current passes through the measurement resistor. The measurement resistor may be rated much lower than the rated power. A resistor rated at three watts may be suitable.

Abstract: A hologon scanning system which generates an essentially bow-free scan line or lines across a surface using a planar, and preferably a holographic, grating disposed in a holding assembly which is rotated about an axis. The surface of the grating is at a constant angle of incidence with respect to a collimated beam of laser light propagating along the axis of rotation. The grating period for the wavelength of the laser beam and for the coordinate system associated with the rotating grating provides a diffraction angle from the grating which is constant with rotation angle; the diffracted beam being perpendicular to the rotation axis. An essentially bow-free, straight scan line is obtained across the receptor surface which may be a flat image plane or a cylindrical image plane having its axis along the axis of rotation of the grating.

Abstract: A print hammer mechanism for use in an impact printer such as a band printer or other printer which has printing elements which are impacted to make impressions on paper or other record medium. The hammer of the mechanism is impacted by dual armatures in forward motion toward the paper and return motion away from the paper so that the hammer is positively driven and does not depend upon the bounce back of the hammer from the paper or need a return spring on the hammer. This reduces the time for each hammer stroke and increases printing speed (characters per second). The armatures are normally decoupled from the hammmer and strike the hammer only after accelerating sufficiently to transfer sufficient speed to the hammer upon impact therewith. Springs are used to bias the hammer to a home position in the return direction and to maintain the armatures against a stop spaced from the hammer so that the armatures are normally decoupled from the hammer.

Abstract: In order to maintain the uniformity of distribution of pores and consistency of pore sizes in a ceramic body used in treatment of biologically active liquor such as wastewater, there is provided a composite body consisting essentially of porous ceramic material having a thin layer of biocidal materials attached to the boundaries of the exposed particles of ceramic in a shallow layer facing the liquor. The layer of biocidal material is of microscopic thickness so that the porosity of the ceramic is preserved and biofouling which would otherwise prevent efficient operation is inhibited. The apparatus is useful as a bubble diffuser in the aeration of wastewater liquor.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength (color--red(R)--blue(B)--green(G)) scanner system using diffraction grating deflector elements. A plurality of elements are used. Each has a different grating period. The elements all have the same lambda/D (wavelength to grating period) ratio. The elements are moved serially to intercept a composite, multi-wavelength beam. A preobjective lens is used to focus the successive, different wavelength beams to a single composite spot on an image surface. Since each element has the same lambda/D value, for a different wavelength, the spots from each wavelength will overlap and scan essentially colinear lines, successively, on the image surface. By moving the image surface an image area can be scanned. The composite spots and lines are used to read color images by measuring the spectrum of reflected light from the scanned image or may be used to generate color images by independently modulating individual sources of light comprising the beams and which make up the scanning spot.

Abstract: A key telephone system which provides both key and private branch exchange (PBX) operational modes utilizes a plurality of digital telephone station sets which communicate with line circuits connected to a time division multiplex (TDM) telephone switching system. A single pair of leads (tip and ring) connect each station set to the line circuits. The TDM switching system has a processor with an operating system which carries out the processes which provide for the selection of key and PBX features. The TDM switching system also provides access to trunk lines which connect the telephone station sets via the TDM switching system to other switching systems, such as the central office of the public utility telephone company. In the station sets and in the line circuits, there are provided channels for signalling data and for PCM data. The PCM data may be voice, codes, or digital data.

Abstract: A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of cooling air, primary air which carries the coal streams into the combustor and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor as measured with the gravimetric feeder.

Abstract: An improved Corn Ear Cutter reduces kernel damage through the use of a cushion in the form of a strip of cushioning material, preferably urethane having a hardness in the range from about 50 to 60 Shore A, which is removably installed on the stripper plates by channels which are mounted on the plates and receive the strips by sliding them into the channel. The strips support the ears of corn at the moment they are cut from the stalk and then propelled along the gap by lugs extending from gathering belts.

Abstract: In order to separate liquids from slurries containing particulate material, and particularly from slurries of water and spent ion exchange materials which are used for water conditioning in the operation of nuclear power plants and must be disposed of without any significant volume of free standing water therein, a vessel is provided which is filled with the slurry. The bottom of the vessel is conical and defines a region for the collection of water which passes thereto radially through a structure which filters the water and supports a bed of the particulate material thereon. A discharge tube extends longitudinally of the vessel into the region. A level sensor is disposed alongside the tube. A passage into the top of the vessel is provided for blowing air through the bed to force interstitial water through the bed into the region.

Abstract: A method for making an end connection for a shaft made of composite material, which accommodates for differences in stiffness, thermal expansion, and chemical resistance between the shaft and the member connected thereto and operates under oscillating torque, thrust, and bending loads, and also provides for manufacturing flexibility in enabling the shaft and connection to be produced as separate parts which are formed when final assembly is to occur. The connection has a male insert which is inserted into the end of the composite shaft. Axial and circumferential grooves are cut in the surfaces of the male insert and the shaft. These grooves are aligned to form circumferential and axial keyways which intersect each other. Material is injected into the keyway and polymerizes to form structural keys which transmit the thrust and torque, while locking the insert member and the shaft permanently together.