Abstract: In a process for determining the state of charge and the peak current loadability of batteries in the currentless pauses before and after a loading phase the no-load voltages U.sub.01 and U.sub.02 are measured. From them, with allowance for battery-specific parameters, especially the time curve of the no-load voltage, the true battery rest voltages U.sub.001 and U.sub.002 are computed. During the loading phase the converted current quantity q is measured and from the relationship U.sub.002 -U.sub.001 =C.sub.1 .multidot.q/Q.sub.0 the acid capacity Q.sub.0 of the battery is found. The relative state of charge SOC.sub.1 is determined from a curve of the rest voltage U.sub.00 linearized by the formula SOC.sub.1 =U.sub.002 /C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 as a function of the state of charge of the battery from which the absolute state of charge is calculated as SOC.sub.1 .multidot.Q.sub.0.From the internal resistance R.sub.

Abstract: A protective enclosure for housing heat-generating electronics, having a sorption device for controlling humidity and a heater for heating the sorption device. The invention protects electronics placed within the enclosure from the effects of water vapor and condensation during normal operation and in the event of power loss. The sorption device adsorbs water vapor during normal operation or power loss when the temperature in the enclosure falls below the dew point. The sorption device releases collected water as water vapor when power is restored and the temperature in the enclosure rises above the dew point. The invention thereby prevents failure of the electronics due to condensation build-up and provides for effective long-term use of the sorption device.

Abstract: A method and traction control system for an AC locomotive which separately controls the allowable creep level of each individual axle and optimizes traction performance by minimizing torsional vibration per axle. The traction control system includes a torque maximizer and a torsional vibration detector. The torque maximizer evaluates the change in traction system performance levels and actual creep level of individual axles and determines the desired torque maximizer state for maximizing traction performance of each individual axle. The torque maximizer utilizes digital filtering to minimize control cycle time. The torsional vibration detector digitally processes estimated torque feedback of each traction motor in order to detect an unacceptable level of torsional vibration. The outputs of the torque maximizer and the torsional vibration detector are provided to a creep modulator which processes these inputs in order to control the operating creep level of each locomotive axle.

Abstract: A composition for sealing warped or cracked engine coolant systems is provided comprising an aqueous silicate mixture comprising 50-80% sodium silicate, based on the total amount of silicates in the mixture, and 50-20% potassium silicate, based on said total amount of silicates in the mixture; the total amount of silicates comprising about 40-50% of said mixture; a glycol in an amount of at least 10% by volume of the composition; and the balance being water. A method for sealing warped or cracked engine cooling systems is also provided.

Abstract: A method for coating turbomachinery having a metal surface to prevent fouling, the steps of the method being applying to the surface a first slurry containing an acidic aqueous medium containing galvanically active material and phosphate ions, thereby forming a galvanically sacrificial first layer, curing the first layer, applying to the cured first layer an aqueous non-conductive second slurry containing inorganic phosphate or silicate ions, thereby forming a non-conductive second layer, curing the second layer, applying to the cured second layer a liquid sealer composition containing a thermally stable organic polymer and fluorocarbon, thereby forming a top layer, and curing the top layer.

Abstract: A gas water heater including a water container adapted to be heated by a gas burner; and an enclosure surrounding the burner, the enclosure having at least one entryway adapted to allow air and fumes to enter the enclosure without igniting flammable gases or vapors outside of the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention includes a voltage control circuit having at least one voltage-controlled oscillator and at least one voltage controller connected to the voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controller has at least one voltage input for supplying an input voltage to the voltage controller, a control signal input for supplying a control signal to the voltage controller, and a voltage output connected to the voltage controlled oscillator for supplying an output voltage thereto. The output voltage controls the delay of the voltage controller oscillator by supplying the control signal to the voltage controller.

Abstract: An aqueous phosphoric bonding solution and coating composition slurry which are environmentally friendly in that they are generally free of molybdate or chromium. Yet the solution is stable with respect to inorganic metal particles, especially aluminum which are admixed to the bonding solution for the preparation of the coating slurry. The metal coated parts and the method of coating the parts with the coating composition are also described. The parts have very satisfactory properties.

Abstract: A multi-cell storage battery, in particular to a lithium storage battery, which contains a temperature control device and in which groups of one or more individual cells arranged alongside one another are separated from one another by a thermally insulating solid layer whose coefficient of thermal conductivity lies between 0.01 and 0.2 W/(m*K), the thermal resistance of the solid layer being greater by at least a factor .lambda. than the thermal resistance of the individual cell. The individual cell is connected, at least in a region free of insulating material, to a heat exchanger, the thermal resistance of the heat exchanger in the direction toward the neighboring cell being selected to be greater by at least a factor .lambda. than the thermal resistance of the individual cell and, in addition, the thermal resistance of the heat exchanger toward the temperature control medium being selected to be smaller by at least a factor of about 10 than the thermal resistance of the individual cell, and .lambda.

Abstract: A water heater that includes a water container, a combustion chamber, adjacent the water container, having at least one inlet to admit air and extraneous fumes into the combustion chamber, at least one inlet comprising a metal plate about 0.4 to 0.6 mm in thickness and through which pass a plurality of ports, the ports comprising a plurality of slots and holes, each slot having a quenching distance of about 0.6 mm, and each hole having a quenching distance in the range of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm and being capable of confining ignition and combustion of said extraneous fumes within the combustion chamber; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the container.

Abstract: A sealable container having a container body, a cover forming a right angle movably connected to the container body, at least one alignment piece and corresponding alignment bracket, and at least one tension lock connected to the container body. When the container is closed, a conical alignment pin on the alignment bracket engages the conical hole and the tension lock engages the cover in a single action to provide alignment and sealing force to compress and seal enclosures between the cover and the container body simultaneously in two perpendicular planes.

Abstract: A gas water heater including a water container adapted to be heated by a gas burner; and an enclosure surrounding the burner, the enclosure having at least one entryway adapted to allow air and fumes to enter the enclosure without igniting flammable gases or vapors outside of the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the throwing power of electroplating solutions which provides a nearly linear current density distribution across the panel. The apparatus includes a cylindrical body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof, a cylindrical cathode arranged coaxially about a central portion of the cylindrical body, an anode coaxially positioned at a lower end portion of the cylindrical body, a conical shield coaxially arranged around an upper end portion of the cathode; and an annular disk-baffle coaxially arranged around a lower end portion of the cathode. The conical shield and the disk-baffle provide a substantially linear current distribution over the cathode.

Abstract: A water heater heating element including a base member adapted to extend through and sealingly engage a wall of a water heater tank, the base member having a recess; a thermistor positioned in the recess; members connected to the thermistor and extending outwardly of the base member to transmit temperature information; a sheathing sealed to and extending outwardly from the base member; a heating coil positioned within the sheathing; cold pins connected to opposed ends of the heating coil and to the base member, the cold pins being sufficiently long that heat generated by the heating coil is not detected by the thermistor; and members connected to the cold pins and extending outwardly of the base member to transmit power to the heating coil.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing in-line process checks in an integrated circuit fabrication process. The process checks are performed on actual product wafers, rather than control wafers. According to the method, production lots of product wafers are subjected to in-line testing. Selected wafers representing each chamber of the fabrication apparatus are tested for defects. Using the actual product wafers allows the detection of the quantity, size, type, composition, and even the cause of the defects. When defects are found, the fabrication process and apparatus are adjusted to avoid producing additional lots with undesirable defects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis catheter support undergarment which allows for easy use and comfortable wearing by the patient. Additionally, the undergarment is versatile in that it may be worn virtually undetectable under clothing and is also designed to be sufficiently durable to withstand many washing and drying cycles. The belt also is capable of conforming to the ever changing waistline of a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method consisting: in passing the sea water through an electrically conductive catalyst (10), arranged in the cathode section of an electrolytic cell (1), comprising a cathode section (3) and an anode section (4) provided with, the former, with at least one cathode (11a, . . . ) and, the latter, with at least one anode (18) and separated by a wall (2) permeable only to the cations and in circulating, in the anode section (4), a conductive aqueous solution of a particular anolyte; in providing an electric voltage between the cathode and the anode of the cell (1) while maintaining the contents of the cathode and the anode sections at specific potentials, so as to produce, in the cathode section, consumption of oxygen dissolved in the treated water and in decomposing, in the anode section, an appropriate amount of solution for ensuring the electroneutrality of the treated water.

Abstract: A gas water heater including a water container adapted to be heated by a gas burner; and an enclosure surrounding the burner, the enclosure having at least one entryway adapted to allow air and fumes to enter the enclosure without igniting flammable gases or vapors outside of the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for determining the starting capacity of a starter battery of a motor vehicle for which the mean value for the voltage surge during the starting of an internal combustion engine, is determined as a function of mean values for the battery and engine temperatures, compared with the voltage surge values of a characteristic line field which records determined voltage surges as a function of corresponding battery and engine temperatures, a deviation of the actually determined voltage surge from the voltage surge stored in the characteristic line field is determined and compared to a preassigned value, and an indicator or an alarm is triggered as soon as the preassigned value is exceeded.