Abstract: There is provided a novel type of ion selective membrane comprising a non-ion selective carrier, and an ion selective active phase molecule having a hydrophilic segment and a lipophilic periphery. In the preferred embodiment said molecule is a siloxane molecule whose Si-O-Groups are open chain, branch chain or cyclically oriented. These ion selective membranes are useful in the selective detection of alkali- and alkaline-earth metals. There is further provided an electrode for use with such a membrane.

Abstract: A portable artificial kidney designed for continuous use includes a catheter with filter properties. The body portion of the catheter has an infusion duct which opens into the surface of the catheter and is provided with surface channels which are covered by a semi-permeable membrane. Ducts are provided which communicate with the channels. One duct is operatively coupled to a suction pump to remove the filtrate. Another duct serves to supply a rinsing solution and the infusion duct serves to replace the liquid which has been filtered off.

Abstract: A continuous flow heating oven of the industrial type used for the heating of ingots, sheet material and the like, which may be of light metal or light metal alloy, includes a burner fired with a liquid or gaseous fuel disposed within a heating chamber. The material to be heated is placed within the oven with the convection air currents generated from the burners directed thereon, with the hot combustion gases produced by the flames. In addition, the exhaust gases are compressed and directed back onto the object to be heated interspersing with the convection air currents originally generated to increase the efficiency of heating the material.

Abstract: A combined damper and thread breakage sensor for use with textile machines includes a housing having a non-conducting medium disposed therein and a first contact and a second contact means immersed in the medium. The second contact extends beyond the housing and is provided with means for guiding the thread in a first position. Upon breakage of the thread the second contact moves to a second position coming into electrical contact with the first contact thereby completing an electrical circuit path of an external circuit. The completed electrical circuit path causes the circuit to shut down the textile machine, thus preventing the fabrication of defective material. The movable contact is provided with a portion which offers resistance to the non-conducting medium thereby additionally functioning to dampen out any sudden and intermittent changes in the thread tension.

Abstract: A cutter for cutting out profiles from sheet material, the cutter having a cutter blade mounted on a pivoted arm whose movement round a fulcrum causes variation in the effective length of the arm by means of a cam and cam follower combination.

Abstract: A minimum friction slider needle for use with warp knitting machines includes a shank having a slot provided therein. The bottom portion of the slot is provided with a raised portion which is the only portion of the shank that comes into contact with the slider member in operation.

Abstract: A plurality of weft threads provided by stationary spools located at one side of a warp knitting machine are picked up by a thread transmission means and are presented to the needle bed of a warp knitting machine. The weft inserting apparatus is disposed within the space included by the needle bed, push rod and guide bar drive levers of the knitting machine.

Abstract: An overflow protection apparatus for use with a toilet includes a bowl having an outwardly extending spout coupled by a flexible hose to a reservoir adapted to receive any excess water flowing out of the toilet. Means are also provided for closing off the water flow from the flushing source and/or the input water source so that the toilet cannot be flushed again until the cause for the overflow therein is cleared.

Abstract: An auxiliary wheelchair braking apparatus includes a bracket adapted to be affixed to the frame of the wheelchair proximate each primary wheel thereof and utilizes caliper type braking device disposed on the bracket, one arm of the calipers being disposed on either side of the primary wheel. Activating levers are disposed proximate the backrest of the wheelchair for easy access by the elbows of the person making use thereof. Each of the activating levers are operatively coupled to the braking device for activation thereof. Pressure exerted on the activating levers forces the braking device to come into contact with the primary wheels responsive to the amount of pressure exerted on the activating lever.

Abstract: A repeater bypass protection apparatus includes a means of providing a low current path between the input and output transmission lines coupled to a repeater amplifier. Under normal operating conditions the low current path presents a relatively high impedance and does not interfere with the operation of the repeater amplifier. Under high voltage transient conditions the protection apparatus is activated and effectively protects the repeater amplifier from being destroyed.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a digitalized music synthesizer functioning in the real time domain to continuously update, in an asynchronous manner, a continuing approximation of a desired waveform by utilizing its memory of the recent history of the operation of the keyboard of the apparatus. A real time clock and a microcomputer are both driven by a single crystal oscillator, operating at any arbitrary frequency that need not correspond with the frequency of the fundamental or harmonic waves to be produced by the apparatus. A memory of the recent history of keyboard events is maintained. The microcomputer utilizes an algorithm employing square waves as a basis and a differential correcting technique which minimizes the quantity of square wave defining terms that need be computed by only recomputing at each time, corrections to the previous computation.

Abstract: An induction furnace for high temperature continuous melting applications utilizes low frequency induction heating of novel graphite susceptor systems and includes means for varying both the amount of power and the distribution of power over the susceptor in order to maintain continuous pollution-free melting of the raw material over a range of melt rates while maintaining constant tap temperature. The furnace has a long campaign life, short start-up and shut-down times, and low operating cost.

Abstract: A liquid level sensing apparatus includes a housing having disposed therein circuit means and a power source for providing an indication when the liquid on a surface reaches a predetermined level. The sensing device which activates the circuit means is a disposable liquid disruptable fuse link fabricated from porous paper mounted on the arm portions of a spring means capable of activating the circuit means.

Abstract: An opacity measuring apparatus and method for monitoring the density of effluent flowing through a furnace stack includes a collimated light source directed in a first light path through the stack and the effluent flowing therein, which impinges upon a photoelectric detector providing a first electrical signal related thereto. A second light path, provided by a light pipe disposed in a path external to the stack, directs the light to the photoelectric detector which provides a second electrical signal related thereto. Circuit means provide a third electrical signal related to the ratio of the first electrical signal to the second electrical signal. Also included is an electrical correction signal related to the drift of the electronic circuitry and unwanted contamination occurring in the first light path which is subtracted from the first and second electrical signals prior to obtaining their ratio and circuitry to display and automatically calibrate the apparatus over relatively long periods of time.

Abstract: An expansion clamp for use with a resilient tubular gasket to provide a leakproof joint in a piping system including a substantially C-shaped circumferentially-extending member having end portions cooperating with one another and further including means for locking the end portions with respect to each other so as to maintain the expansion clamp, the gasket, the inner circumferential surface of the pipe in mutual compressive relation. One end of the C-shaped member is also provided with means to prevent axial and radial displacement of the other end portion.