Abstract: A heat exchange assembly for raising a process fluid, such as ultra-pure, de-ionized water, to an elevated temperature without adversely affecting the quality thereof includes coaxially-arranged inner and outer pipes, the annular space therebetween defining a flow passage for the fluid to be heated. The inner pipe is formed of high-strength metal of good thermal conductivity and encloses a heat source, such as steam, circulating heated fluid or an electric heater. The inner pipe is ensheathed by an extruded heat-shrinkable plastic tube of non-reactive material, such as PTFE or polypropylene not exceeding 7 mils in thickness, which is shrunk-fit thereon to form one wall of the flow passage. The opposing wall of the passage is formed by the interior surface of the outer pipe which is also constituted by non-reactive plastic material such as PTFE or polypropylene.

Abstract: A contoured structural laminate formed of thin facings bonded to an end-grain balsa wood core. The laminate is produced by first bonding a liner of end-grain balsa to each facing to create front and rear plies. The exposed surfaces of the liners are then wet coated with a bonding solution, and the two plies with their coated liners in face-to-face relation are placed in a forming press which causes the front ply to assume a concave-like formation and the rear ply a complementary convex-like formation. During forming, the wet interface of the liners affords slip freedom. When the bonding agent dries and cures in the press, the plies are permanently laminated together to form the desired contoured structure.

Abstract: A portable unit for heating packages containing pre-cooked cold food, the unit acting to rapidly heat up the food to a service temperature level and to thereafter maintain this level. The unit includes a case having a rack therein divided by shelves into a series of compartments, each adapted to receive a food package. Standing vertically behind the rack is an air modulator including a stationary outer tube having a series of longitudinally-aligned ports communicating with the respective compartments. Rotating within the outer tube is an inner tube having a series of angularly-displaced holes which successively register with the ports in the course of a rotary cycle. Air drawn from the free region in the front of the rack is conveyed through a heater station and from there blown into the inner tube to create a pressure differential between the free region and the inner tube.

Abstract: A method for producing a multi-channel transparent jacket to accommodate microfilm strips having a given thickness, the jacket being constituted by top and bottom rectangular panels of flexible synthetic plastic material and plastic ribs formed in situ along parellel lines between the panels and integrally bonded thereto to maintain the panels in spaced relation and to define open-ended channels whose width is substantially equal to the width of the strips. In the method, extruded molten streams of polyester material compatible with the material of the panels are directed onto the surface of a first web of panel material in parallel paths thereon, the first web being advanced concurrently with a second web of panel material into combining rolls which act to compress and flatten the streams to produce the in situ ribs, the combined web then being sectioned into individual jackets.

Abstract: A medical-electronic body fluid accounting system for use in surgical procedures and in post-operative and non-surgical care to afford a running account of the fluid intake to a patient and fluid outtake therefrom. The system is provided with a microcomputer to which is applied digital data derived from a plurality of fluid input source channels and fluid output source channels which together represent the prevailing fluid input and output sources associated with the patient. Included in the input source channels are those monitoring the flow of fluids being fed intraveneously into the patient, each such input channel having a sensor which generates a signal representing the volume of a particular fluid, such as a saline solution, being infused into the patient, this signal being converted into a corresponding digital value.

Abstract: A vortex-shedding flowmeter for accurately measuring the flow rate of gases and liquid conducted through a flow tube provided with a dual-body shedder having a front section fixedly mounted across the tube, behind which is a pivotally mounted rear section separated from the front section by a gap configured to produce a fluidic feedback path so that a strong hydraulic interaction takes place between the sections and both actively contribute to the formation of periodic vortices which are alternately shed on either side of the shedder. The rear section is mounted on a pivot shaft extending along an axis normal to the flow axis of the tube, whereby the vortices which appear on either side of the rear section induce the rear section to oscillate. These oscillations are sensed to produce a signal representing the flow rate.

Abstract: A probe immersible in process water or wastewater having oxygen, chlorine or another gas dissolved therein and adapted to continuously and accurately measure the concentration of the gas. The probe includes a noble metal measuring electrode, an oxidizable metal counter-electrode and an electrolyte which in combination with the electrodes defines an electro-chemical cell whose output current depends on the amount of the gas passing into the cell through a diffusion membrane permeable to the gas being analyzed. In order to simulate the effect of rapid sample flow past the membrane and thereby maintain the analytical sensitivity of the instrument, the probe is vertically supported through a flexible coupling and includes an internal motor having an unbalanced rotor secured to its shaft. Rotation of the rotor causes the probe to nutate about its vertical axis to simulate the effect of a rapid sample flow.

Abstract: A modified low-density flexible polyurethane foam product having a relatively high degree of firmness as well as commercially acceptable dielectric heat sealing characteristics. The product formulation includes an intermediate constituted by a mixture of polyol and a polymer/polyol in a ratio imparting to the product a predetermined degree of firmness, and a thermoplastic additive whose dielectric loss index is greater than the loss index of polyurethane foam to impart to the product an acceptable dielectric heating response in a high frequency electric field. This response is enhanced by a styrene component included in the polymer/polyol.

Abstract: A public access network operating in conjunction with existing telecommunication lines to permit a caller holding a machine-readable credit card to make calls from any local station included in the network without having to deposit coins and without human intervention. The network is constituted by a management and master control central linked to a group of satellites installed at different locations, such as airport terminals. At every installation, the satellite services a plurality of local telephone stations each provided with a standard telephone set, a card reader adapted to scan the caller's credit card to derive therefrom a digital signal identifying the card, its number and expiration date, this signal being applied to a local processor to determine whether the card is acceptable to the network.

Abstract: An auxiliary channel coupled to a selected loop in a plurality of process control loops included in a direct digital control system, the channel serving to expand the frequency response of the selected loop. The system is provided with a digital computer acting as an electronic controller common to all loops, each loop including a transducer sensing a particular process variable to produce a corresponding analog input signal which is digitized and compared in the computer with a set point signal to yield, after conversion, an analog output signal for operating a final control element in the loop to correct for process variations. The analog input signals from the respective loops are sequentially fed into the computer through a multiplexer at a relatively slow sampling rate whereby the loops are normally responsive only to the low-frequency component in the sampled process variables representing slow changes.

Abstract: A wrist watch case and metal bracelet assembly in which the complementary components of the bracelet are attached to the ends of the case in a manner simulating a "soldered look," yet the components may be detached to replace the bracelet. The case, which is adapted to accommodate the watch movement, has a generally rectangular shape. The ends at the rear face of the case each have a notch therein to define a broad ledge bordered by fingers. Bridging the fingers on each end is a retractable cross bar having axially-extending pins which are socketed in cavities formed in the fingers, the bar being raised slightly above the ledge. Received within each ledge is the tail of a respective bracelet component, the tail having a transverse groove therein to admit the cross bar which acts to link the component to the case. The ledge overlaps the front face of the tail so that the linked component appears to be integrated with the case.

Abstract: A watch case and metal bracelet assembly in which the tail ends of the bracelet components are attachable to the complementary ends of the case in a manner simulating a "soldered look," yet these components may readily be detached to replace the bracelet. The case which is adapted to accommodate the watch movement has straight ends each provided with a longitudinal groove, the case having at its midpoint adjacent each end a threaded bore to receive a holding screw which when turned in penetrates the related groove. Each bracelet component terminates in a split tail pin which is slidable into the groove at the complementary end of the case and is locked therein by the holding screw which when turned in extends into the mid space between the half pieces of the pin; hence to detach the component from the case, one has merely to turn out the screw.

Abstract: A gas-fired infrared heater for projecting an infrared beam in a radiation pattern having a predetermined geometry for irradiating the surface of a food product or other body to effect uniform heating thereof at a rapid rate. The heater is constituted by a refractory assembly formed by a stack of identical slabs having a bore therethrough to receive the cylinder of a controllable ribbon-type gas-air burner from whose longitudinal slot is emitted a sheet of flame. Each slab is provided with a sector-shape channel cut in one face thereof to define a fin and side walls that diverge from the bore to create a flattened IR radiation horn whose mouth is aligned with the burner slot, whereby the surface of the assembly on which the flame impinges is heated to a temperature level causing this surface to emit infrared energy. The parallel array of radiation horns created by the assembly produces a radiation pattern whose shape depends on the geometry of the channel.

Abstract: A glass-to-metal compression sealed lead-in structure for electronic devices. The structure is constituted by an outer metal case having a high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a lead-in conductor extending through the opening in the case and having a relatively low CTE, and a glass seal filling the space between the conductor and the case and having a relatively low or intermediate CTE. The conductor is fabricated of a machinable metal whose normal CTE is higher than required, the surface of the metal after the conductor is machined to specification, being treated with a substance that acts to reduce the CTE of the conductor to render it compatible with the CTE of the glass seal.

Abstract: An electrode wiring harness for an electromagnetic flowmeter which includes a non-magnetic metal spool having an insulating liner to define a flow conduit for the fluid to be metered, a pair of electrodes being mounted on the spool at diametrically-opposed positions along a transverse axis which is normal to the axis of the electromagnet assembly. The assembly is excited by a pulsatory wave to establish a magnetic field in the conduit that is intercepted by the fluid to induce a signal in the electrodes as a function of flow rate. The harness is constituted by a printed circuit board connected to the electrodes and disposed in a plane parallel to the electrode axis. The board has a conductive pattern thereon providing wiring from the electrodes to an external converter, the pattern including a loop coaxial with the electromagnet axis, whereby voltages induced therein by the magnetic field are balanced out.

Abstract: A structural sandwich laminate constituted by thin skins, such as aluminum or fiber-reinforced plastic sheets bonded to the faces of a core formed by an array of wood strips having a periodic wave formation. The wavy strips in the array are out of phase with each other and are bonded together at their contiguous troughs and peaks to define an open-celled expanded wood structure whereby the laminate, though light-weight, has high strength.