Abstract: Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section.

Abstract: A tube-type heat exchanger has a low wear support and drive for a whip rod that orbits over the inner surface of the heat transfer tube to spread a process liquid into a thin falling film. The support and drive includes a conical thrust bearing near the upper end of the rod. An edge of the thrust bearing engages and rolls over a circular rim bearing surface. A stem pin axially aligned with the rod extends upwardly over the rod and through a circular hole in an orbiting drive plate. In one form, the rim bearing surface is formed on the upper edge of the tube, or on the upper edge of a generally cylindrical bearing secured on or over the tube. The thrust bearing is secured between the rod and the stem. A stop disc carried on the stem pin limits the fall of the rod in the tube when the orbiting stops.

Abstract: An apparatus, thermal storage system and method for heat exchange using a tube-type heat exchanger. A rod or rods are propelled to moves over the inner surface of the tube. The moving rod is in contact with a first process liquid which is adjacent the inner surface as a falling film or by flooding the interior of the tube. The flooded mode is particularly useful where the tube is non-vertical or the heat exchanger is used to make an ice slurry for HVAC systems serving high-rise buildings. Multiple such rod and tube assemblies are operated simultaneously using a drive plate powered to execute an orbital motion in a plane generally orthogonal to the rods. In one form the plate is coupled via a crank to equiangularly space spaced rods in each tube. This form of orbital drive allows the use of a device to develop an auxiliary radial force, such as spring mounts extending between a central, rotating shaft mounted in each tube and the rod or rods for that tube.

Abstract: Liquid crystal panels are connected to one another with at least one thermoplastic bonding agent. The thermoplastic bonding agent has the same refractive index as the refractive index of two glass substrates respectively serving as a TFT substrate and a CF substrate forming each liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panels are heat-pressed to a reinforced substrate through the thermoplastic bonding film which is made of, for example, a thermoplastic polymer. According to this arrangement, the thermoplastic bonding film does not lose its volume when the liquid crystal panels are heat-pressed to the reinforced substrate. Thus, unlike a conventional method where the CF substrate forming the liquid crystal panel is pulled toward the reinforced substrate side, a uniform cell gap can be secured.

Abstract: A soffit fascia system 1 comprising a horizontal soffit 2 and a vertical fascia 9 has secured thereto, by means of a fixing channel 7 that engages the edge 2a of the soffit 2, a member 6 having a decorative portion 8 which, when in position, depends from soffit 2.The end 9a of the fascia 9 extends below the soffit 2 and contacts the closed end 7a of the fixing channel 7 and the shoulder 20 of the member 6. The face of the fascia 9 and the decorative portion 8 lie in the same plane.The decorative portion 8 is provided with corresponding male 17 and female clip attachments on opposing ends which allow the decorative portions 8 to be secured one to another in a run by positive clipping action.

Abstract: A circular membrane diaphragm is edge-mounted on a generally cylindrical housing structure that allows the diaphragm to deform when a differential pressure is applied across it. The housing structure also supports a circular electrode in an internal chamber and in close proximity to the back surface of the diaphragm to form a variable capacitor. The outer side of the membrane is exposed to a second chamber defined by the housing structure and a cover. A tube connects the second chamber to a gas whose pressure is to be measured. The back of the housing structure is exposed to atmospheric pressure and other ambient atmospheric conditions. The housing structure is characterized by double flanges spaced axially by a deep lateral groove. A central cylindrical boss extends axially from the back side of the housing. The outer diameter B of the boss is at least equal to the diameter E of the groove. This housing structure provides the membrane with a high degree of isolation from external pressure fluctuations.

Abstract: An apparatus particularly suited to the inspection of carp in trucks, shipping containers and the like uses a beam of high energy x-rays, e.g., in the order of 8 Mev. A first detector is aligned with the beam to detect x-rays that have passed directly through the cargo. A second detector, located adjacent the first detector, receives x-rays that are inelastically forward scattered from the cargo at an angle in the range of 4.degree. to 10.degree.. Comparison of the relative amounts of x-ray received at each of these detectors with values for known materials identifies the nature of the cargo. The beam is fan-shaped and preferably vertical, and the detectors are preferably linear arrays of detector elements. Collimators define the field of view of the two detector arrays so that they both include a common spatial location within the cargo.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure probe for use in measuring pulsatile ocular blood flow comprises a housing consisting of an air tight bearing defining a pressure chamber, a piston having an axial bore communicating with the pressure chamber, the proximal end of the piston carrying a counter balancing weight and being received in the pressure chamber and the distal end of the piston extending outwardly of the housing and carrying a disposable sensing head. A transparent membrane is integrally attached to the sensing head and is substantially perpendicular to the piston axial bore and an interior channel through which light is emitted to the membrane from an LED mounted in the housing. The probe allows the patients visual axis to be aligned with the axial bore of the piston by focusing on the light source during measurement enabling the applanated comae and sensing membrane to be maintained substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular with the axial bore of the piston.

Abstract: A compact dissolved-air-flotation (DAF) clarifier and clarification process utilize three zones for clarification which operate in sequence in a single clarifier. Raw water with suspended solids enters a flocculator at the center of an annular tank where microscopic air bubbles introduced to the inflow float flocked contaminants to form a floating sludge layer. A first clarification, calming and degassing occur here. The water then flows radially outwardly into the tank where further quiet clarification occurs. A third level of clarification occurs in a lower portion of the tank, specifically, in a set of plate-like lamellae, radial and conical, which form inclined channels where a final clarification occurs. The bottom wall of the tank has a set of apertures which allow a gravity flow of clarified water through a layer of pressurized gas to an underlying collection compartment.

Abstract: A rotary motor and a rotary magnetic bearing are integrated in a compact assembly that is contact-less. A stator assembly surrounds a ferromagnetic rotor with an annular air gap which can accommodate a cylindrical wall, e.g. of a chamber for semiconductor wafer processing. The stator assembly has a permanent magnet or magnets sandwiched between vertically spaced magnetic stator plates with plural pole segments. The rotor is preferably a ring of a magnetic stainless steel with complementary pole teeth. The stator assembly (i) levitates and passively centers the rotor along a vertical axis and against tilt about either horizontal axis, (ii) provides a radial position bias for the rotor, and (iii) establishes a motor flux field at the rotor poles. Polyphase coils wound on the stator plates produce a rotating flux field that drives the rotor as a synchronous homopolar motor. A rotor without pole teeth allows operation with an asynchronous inductive drive.

Abstract: An apparatus, thermal storage system and method for heat exchange using a tube-type heat exchanger. A rod (24) or rods (24, 24') are propelled to move over the inner surface (7) of the tube (1). The moving rod (24) is in contact with a first process liquid which is adjacent the inner surface (7) as a falling film or by flooding the interior of the tube (1). The flooded mode is particularly useful where the tube (24) is non-vertical or the heat exchanger is used to make an ice slurry for HVAC systems serving high-rise buildings. Multiple such rod (24) and tube (1) assemblies are operated simultaneously using a drive plate (22) powered to execute an orbital motion in a plane generally orthogonal to the rods (24, 24'). In one form the plate (22) is coupled via a crank (40) to equiangularly spaced rods (24, 24') in each tube (1).

Abstract: An endoscope for use in the removal of tumors from hollow body organs such as the bladder. The endoscope consists of a sheath (49) through which extends a telescope (40) and a suction diathermy tube (2, 31, 60) the non-operation end (3, 33) of which communicates with a suction device. Provision (51, 52) is made for an irrigation fluid to be passed through the endoscope. The diathermy tube (2, 31, 60) has an electrode tip (7, 8) which may be formed from electrically conducting resistance wire connected (5, 39, 63) to a diathermy machine. The electrode tip is found adjacent an aperture (4, 9, 41) at the operative of the tube whereby tissue can be immediately removed by suction after severance by the electrode tip. The degree of suction applied to the tube (2, 31, 61) is controlled by a finger hole (38a, 55, 66) located at or near the end (3, 33) of the tube (2, 31, 61).

Abstract: A dual flywheel assembly for use in an airborne vehicle for storing mechanical energy therein prior to flight and for permitting the extraction of electrical energy therefrom during flight, which assembly includes two flywheels which are linked by a suitable linkage structure such that, if roll motion of the vehicle starts to occur during flight, the flywheels tilt in equal and opposite directions out of their normal planes of rotation, which tilting motions act in a passive manner to stabilize the roll motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described to facilitate the coupling of two wires introduced into the vascular system at two different points in the body. The coupling enables the formation of a continuous wire entering the body at one point and exiting at another remote point. The device consists of two wires "A" and "B" with a magnetic element attached to one end of each wire. The coupling is formed by the forces of attraction between the magnetic elements. Wire "A" is introduced at one point in the vascular system, for example, in the femoral artery. Wire "B" is then introduced at another point in the vascular system, for example, the axiliary artery. The wires are advanced towards each other under fluoroscopic guidance. The magnetic tips couple once the two wires near each other. The coupled wires are then withdrawn together from either of the two access sites. Once the magnetic coupling exits the body, a single wire is left traversing the vascular system.

Abstract: A batch thermal cycler for large numbers of biological or chemical samples uses n modules each in good thermal contact with the samples, but substantially isolated from one another, thermally and functionally. Each module carries samples on an upper sample plate. The module has a temperature sensor adjacent the samples, an electrical resistance heating element, and a circulating fluid heat exchanger for step cooling. Heating occurs at a point generally between the samples and the source of the cooling. The modules are individually replaceable. O-rings automatically seal fluid and electrical interfaces. An electrical controller has n simultaneous channels that provide closed loop control of the electrical power to each module. As a method, the invention includes at least one modular temperature zone where the temperature is sensed at a point adjacent the samples in that zone. The samples are heated adjacent the sample plate. Cooling is by a step change. The cooling overshoots a set lower temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a three dimensional sensing system which utilizes two flexibly located cameras for receiving and recording visual information with respect to a sensed object illuminated by a series of light planes. Each pixel of each image is converted to a digital word and the words are grouped into stripes, each stripe comprising contiguous pixels. One pixel of each stripe in one image is selected and an epi-polar line of that point is drawn in the other image. The three dimensional coordinate of each selected point is determined by determining the point on said epi-polar line which also lies on a stripe in the second image and which is closest to a known light plane.

Abstract: Raw feed water is continuously clarified at a large throughput rate in a single, shallow tank using a flotation process carried out simultaneously in multiple sectors of the tank. Raw water feeds into a rotating trough. A fixed manifold system in the trough dispenses pressurized water containing dissolved air to release microscopic air bubbles. A set of headers each radially extend outwardly from the rotating trough. Each header distributes water and bubbles to a sector of the tank with a net zero velocity. A set of rotating extractors each receive clarified water from the bottom of a preceding sector. A set of scoops skim floated sludge from the water in the tank. The sludge is lifted, as by the rotation of the scoop and/or by a pumped conduit, over the rotating trough to a sludge outlet pipe. In one form the scoop has at least two blades each with an eccentrically located, radially extending compartment that receives, lifts, and then dumps the skimmed sludge as the scoop rotates about its axis.

Abstract: A variable capacitance type pressure sensor with excellent manufacturability center-mounts an electrode on an edge-mounted diaphragm using a metal-glass-metal subassembly. An inner metal post of the assembly is welded to the diaphragm. A solder or flowable cement secures the electrode to an outer metal collar of the assembly with the initial diaphragm-to-electrode spacing set by a temporary shim. The position of the glass and the physical lengths of the metallic members of the assembly are adjusted to provide self-compensation for temperature variations. In a preferred form for low and medium pressure applications, the diaphragm is stamped from sheet metal with a central dimple that resists rotation of the attached assembly and isolates diaphragm deformation stresses from the post-to-diaphragm weld. In a high pressure form, a machined central boss isolates this weld from stress.