Abstract: A Doppler-type ultrasonic flowmeter whose transmitting transducer is excited by an oscillator to project into the meter pipe a diverging beam of ultrasonic energy. The projected beam is reflected by contaminants carried by the fluid lying within the zone in which the projected beam intersects a reception beam converging toward a receiving transducer which picks up the reflected energy. The transmitted signal is mixed with the Doppler signal yielded by the receiving transducer to yield positive and negative beats which are applied to a low-pass filter from which is extracted a band of negative beat frequencies representing the disparate flow velocities of the contaminants within the zone dictated by the prevailing velocity profile of the fluid. This band is subjected to spectral analysis to determine the velocities of the contaminants and their relative percentages, from which the flow profile of the fluid being metered is calculated to ascertain the mean flow velocity thereof.

Abstract: A gas-extraction arrangement for a settling tank included in a wastewater treatment system, the tank having an outlet zone defined by an effluent trough at least one side of which has a weir to permit clarified water from the tank to spill therein. The trough is covered by a hood which acts to confine the atmosphere thereabove to the hood region, at least one side of the hood protruding into the tank water at a point spaced from the weir to create a scum baffle preventing grease and other floating matter from being discharged into the trough. The hood is coupled to a suction pump which acts to draw noxious gases emitted as the water spills over the weir into a gas-control system or other means for deactivating the gases.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter which includes a pair of electrodes molded of electrically-conductive synthetic plastic material disposed at diametrically-opposed points in a flow tube through which the fluid being metered passes to intercept a magnetic field, thereby inducing a voltage in the electrodes that is a function of flow rate. The inner wall of the tube is protectively covered by an insulating liner molded of a synthetic plastic material having an affinity for the electrode material and fused to the periphery thereof to define a monolithic conduit which is leak-proof.

Abstract: An electro-inertial precipitator unit for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream passing through a collector tube having a discharge electrode coaxially disposed therein to establish an electrostatic field between the electrode and a downwardly-flowing liquid film on the inner surface of the tube. The gaseous stream is introduced tangentially into an upper inlet section of the tube to impart a swirling motion thereto, the liquid being supplied to an annular inlet slot just below the gas inlet section. Because of the centrifugal force generated by the swirling motion, the particles in the gaseous stream are urged to migrate toward the liquid film, this migration being further promoted by the electrostatic force acting on the particles which are charged with ions in the field. To avoid the formation of dust streaks on the inner surface of the tube, which tend to occur with relatively low liquid flow rates, the gaseous stream flowing therethrough is pulsed.

Abstract: A fluidic control system provided with a variable Venturi structure whose movable element is automatically shifted as a function of the mass-volume of fluids passing through the structure to produce an output which depends on the adjusted position of the element or the resultant velocity-pressure. The system is applicable to the metering, proportioning and blending of fluids. In the context of an internal combustion automotive engine in which the variable Venturi structure acts to intermingle combustion air and fuel prior to ignition, the system provides a stoichiometric or other ratio of air-to-fuel that represents the optimum value for the prevailing condition of engine speed and load throughout a broad operating range, thereby effecting a marked improvement in fuel economy and reducing the emission of pollutants.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly for a demountable printing cylinder, the assembly including a tube receivable within the cylinder and having journals joined thereto at either end. Encircling each journal is an expansible sleeve, the sleeves fitting within the end heads of the cylinder when it is mounted on the mandrel assembly. Below each sleeve on its journal is a relieved zone defining an annular hydraulic chamber. An axial inlet section which opens into the free end of each journal receives a piston and a tool-operated piston screw, the inlet section leading into an internal duct in axial alignment therewith having a lateral branch communicating with the hydraulic chamber, the duct and chamber being filled with hydraulic fluid. When the piston screw is turned in to advance the piston, the resultant hydraulic pressure is applied through the hydraulic chamber against the inner wall of the sleeve, causing the sleeve to expand and grip the cylinder head, thereby locking the cylinder to the mandrel assembly.

Abstract: A teakettle for boiling water, the covered kettle having a spout projecting therefrom whose mouth is normally closed by a whistle cap having an extension arm terminating in a pinion mounted for rotation at one end of a bail secured to the kettle and serving as a handle therefor. The pinion is engaged by a rack attached to the front end of an arcuate strip slidable within the hollow bail, the rear end of the strip being coupled through a slot in the bail to an external finger pad. To pour boiling water from the kettle, the user grasps the bail with his hand and manipulates the finger pad with his finger to push the pad forward, thereby advancing the rack and causing the pinion to rotate and lift the cap from the mouth of the spout. Release of the finger pad causes the cap to drop back in place on the spout and to return the finger pad to its initial position.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly for a demountable printing cylinder, the assembly including a tube receivable within the cylinder and having journals joined thereto at either end. Encircling each journal is an expansible sleeve, the sleeves fitting within the end heads of the cylinder when it is mounted on the mandrel assembly. Below each sleeve is a relieved journal zone defining an annular hydraulic chamber. A lateral bore in each journal receives a piston and a tool-operated piston screw, the bore leading into an internal duct having branches communicating with the hydraulic chamber. When the piston screw is turned in to advance the piston, the resultant hydraulic pressure is applied through the hydraulic chamber against the inner wall of the sleeve, causing the sleeve to expand and grip the cylinder head thereby locking the cylinder to the mandrel assembly. When the piston screw is turned out, the pressure is released to permit removal of the cylinder.

Abstract: A system for installation on aircraft to serve trays containing precooked food to passengers, the food-loaded trays being placed in the aircraft in the cold state and being heated to a service temperature level. The system includes a locker adapted to accommodate a bank of open-end racks, each having a stack of trays therein separated by air spaces, the front ends of the racks facing the door of the locker. Behind the racks is a hot air modulator in the form of a shallow box having a broad, continuously driven tape therein, the front course of the advancing tape facing the rear ends of the racks through windows in the box which register with these ends. The tape has endless trains of holes punched therein, each train lying in a plane intersecting a respective air space between trays in the stacks. Air drawn from the free region between the front door of the locker and the front ends of the racks is caused by a blower to pass through a heater station.

Abstract: A basic garment suitable for use as a medical examination gown or for other purposes calling for apparel which may be quickly opened to fully expose the body of the wearer. The garment is fabricated from a single blank of non-woven polyester sheet material contoured to define front and rear sections having complementary sleeve portions, with a transverse fold line therebetween in the center of which is a neck opening. The front section is slit into a pair of panels that separate at the neck opening whereby when the front section is folded over the rear section and the two sections are ultrasonically seamed together at their opposing side margins, a garment is created having the desired characteristics. The front panels are releasably held together by hook and loop nylon fabric fasteners whose male components are ultrasonically-bonded to the margin of one panel and whose female components are ultrasonically-bonded to the margin of the other panel.

Abstract: Probes for a probe card adapted to test integrated circuit patterns having contacts deployed thereon, the card including an opening providing access to a pattern and a ring of spaced conductive pads surrounding the opening. The probes are adapted to be anchored on selected pads of the card, each probe being constituted by a rigid, blade-like needle-holder having a deflectable needle extending therefrom to engage a respective contact in the pattern being tested.

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 counter-top 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 an apertured partition therein to form a compartment accessible from the front of the case for accommodating a stack of food packages with air-flow spaces therebetween. The compartment is spaced from the rear of the case to define a plenum and from the front to define an air curtain passage communicating with upper and lower air passages leading to the plenum. In operation, air drawn from the upper passage is heated and blown into the plenum to create a pressure differential between the plenum and the compartment, as a result of which the heated air is forced through the partition into the spaces between the packages to heat the food therein, the heated air also flowing in a continuous loop about the compartment through the passages to thermally isolate the compartment.

Abstract: A spice rack and bracket assembly whose rack is adapted to hold an array of bottles containing different spices and whose bracket is selectively adapted to support the rack in any one of these modes, whereby one may hang the rack on a wall, or cause it to lie flat on a counter or to stand thereon. The rack is constituted by a staircase frame having a series of steps, each formed by a landing and a wall normal thereto, the step landing having a row of semi-circular notches therein, each of which lies in registration with a row of semi-circular wells projecting rearwardly from the associated wall to define one half of a bottle-receiving socket which is completed by a semi-circular shield projecting forwardly from the wall. The uppermost landing and lowermost wall of the frame are provided with slots which cooperate with tongues formed on the triangular sides of the bracket to support the rack in any desired mode.

Abstract: A suction film holder preferably for a reproduction camera and comprising a plate with channels opening outwards and communicating with a suction means. The known suction holders comprise a plurality of concentric chambers mutually communicating through valves, only the intermediary chamber being connected to the suction source. The sheet in question may therefore neither be of an arbitrary size nor be arbitrarily located. According to the invention the channels uniformly dispersed across the entire plate are individually connected to the suction means through at least one valve, said valve closing when a heavy flow takes place and slightly opening when substantially the same pressure is present on both sides thereof. In this manner the sheet may have an arbitrary size and be arbitrarily located. A plurality of channels always open on to the back of the sheet, the valves of said channels slightly opening when substantially the same pressure is present on both sides of the valve, i.e.

Abstract: A method of controlling the contrast by reproduction such as screen reproduction, e.g. screen reproduction of halftone pictures by means of a main exposure and an auxiliary exposure, whereby the density both in the lightest and in the darkest field of the picture and consequently the contrast range of the halftone picture are first measured by means of a densitometer, whereafter the ratio of the lightest spot of the background chosen to the lightest spot of the original is measured and the main exposure is adjusted in response thereto. According to the invention a slider is on the basis of the screen range adjusted in a table indicating the flash percentage versus the screen range and the image range, whereby the flash percentage is automatically measured on the basis of a signal value corresponding to the image range. In this manner references to tables are avoided without using calculating units.

Abstract: A manually-operated surgical evacuator for draining fluids from the human body. The evacuator is constituted by a cup of rigid material covered by an elastic membrane to define a sump chamber, the cup being provided with an inlet fixture and an exhaust fixture communicating with the chamber. The inlet fixture is coupled by a suitable tube to the wound to be drained, and the exhaust fixture is provided with a removable plug or other means to open and shut the exhaust. Attached to the membrane is a rigid disc functioning as an actuator, such that when the plug is removed and the disc pressed into the cup, the membrane is stretched inwardly and acts to displace the atmosphere through the open exhaust fixture. After the exhaust fixture is shut and the disc released, the membrane proceeds to return to its original form, thereby creating a negative pressure which acts to draw fluid from the wound through the tube and into the sump chamber.

Abstract: A signal generator for an electromagnetic flowmeter provided with a flow tube having an insulated liner through which a fluid to be metered flows to intercept an electromagnetic field established therein to induce a signal depending on flow rate in a pair of electrodes mounted at diametrically-opposed positions on the tube. The field is created by an excitation coil to which is applied an excitation current derived from an external power supply. This signal generator incorporates a current-setting circuit for setting the excitation current to a value establishing a constant relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and the signal yielded by the electrodes.