Abstract: The fluid conductivity sensor disclosed herein is adapted for the non-contacting measurement of fluid conductivity and utilizes first and second insulating tubes, each of which is provided with both the driving transformer and the sensing transformer. The sensor is immersed in the fluid to be tested so that the tubes fill with the fluid. The driving transformer's are oppositely poled so that the current induced in one tube tends to return through the other tube. Shrouds are provided which link the corresponding ends of the tubes and operate to obstruct in-fluid current flow not linking both of the tubes. Accordingly the influence of objects nearby in the fluid is substantially eliminated.

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: 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: 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 object of the invention is to correct a distortion due to inclination of a document and to correct a luminance.First, an edge detection section detects an edge of a document image from a picture obtained by imaging the document. Then, a skew detection section detects a skew of the document from the edge. A rotation correction section causes the picture to rotate on the basis of the skew detected by the skew detection section. Subsequently, the edge detection section again extracts a document image edge from the picture rotated by the rotation correction section. Further, a height calculation section calculates from the edge a height of the document. Simultaneously, a magnification calculation section calculates from the edge a magnification of the picture. Next, a distortion correction section corrects a distortion by magnification/reduction of the picture rotated by the rotation correction section on the basis of the document height and the magnification.

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: An image forming system has a plurality of image forming apparatuses that are operatively connected so as to communicate image information with each other. Some of the image forming apparatuses carry out image processing in a distributed manner with respect to image information that has been inputted to one of the image forming apparatuses and corresponds to a plurality of pages. Such some image forming apparatuses carry out the image processing for every predetermined pages of the image information in parallel and within processing capacity levels of such some image forming apparatuses. The processing capacity levels fall within a permissible range. Such an arrangement causes (1) to shorten the time required for processing to be carried out within the image forming system and (2) for the image-processed image information to be substantially the same level over the entire pages.

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 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 fluid handling apparatus, particularly a vacuum pump, has as a first stage a high volumetric displacement rate scroll pump of multiple nested interacting pairs of fixed and movable spiral-shaped blades supported in a housing between an inlet and an outlet. Each adjacent blade pair closes one inter-blade pocket in each cycle of operation. For very low base pressure vacuum applications, the adjacent blades extend about two revolutions to produce plural pockets in series. A second scroll pump mounted in the housing has its inlet fed directly from the first scroll outlet. The second scroll has a single pair of co-acting fixed and movable blades with multiple revolutions. A central drive shaft rotating in main bearings has an eccentric portion coupled to a plate that carries the movable blades of both scroll pumps. Synchronization cranks constrain the plate to orbit, not rotate. A purge gas flows over the crank bearings to sweep away and/or dilute corrosive fluids.

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 hauling system for loose bulk material at a construction site uses a self-propelled vehicle and a trailer that is not self-propelled which are releasably connected by a system that is operable by a single operator who aligns, connects, locks, unlocks and disconnects the self-propelled vehicle and the trailer, preferably without leaving the cab of the self-propelled vehicle. A hook secured on a tool of the self-propelled vehicle and a ring secured, directly or indirectly, to the trailer, releasably connect them. Rotation of the tool, e.g. the bucket of a wheel loader, locks and unlocks the coupling. The operator of the self-propelled vehicle has direct visible sight of the coupling. The ring can be mounted at the end of an articulated frame pivotally connected to a hydraulic jack cylinder. A dump body of the trailer can be raised by a hoist piston. Vertical reciprocation of the tool pumps the jack cylinder which produces hydraulic power to activate the hoist cylinder via a valve body.

Abstract: A positive displacement fluid handling apparatus has a first, high volumetric displacement rate scroll pump of nested interacting pairs of fixed and movable spiral-shaped blades supported in a housing between an inlet and an outlet. Each adjacent blade pair is of sufficient angular extent, preferably only about 360.degree., to close an inter-blade pocket. In a preferred form for a vacuum pump, a second scroll pump mounted in the housing has its fluid inlet in direct fluid communication with the first scroll outlet. The second scroll has a single pair of co-acting fixed and movable blades with multiple revolutions with a relatively short axial height. The low back leakage of this second pump allows the first pump to omit tip seals on the free spiral edges of the blades. The volumetric displacement rate of the first pump exceeds that of the second pump. An orbiting plate carries the movable blades of both scroll pumps.