Abstract: An optical chamber for use in an apparatus for measuring characteristics of small particles such as blood cells while the particles are suspended in a liquid includes a housing which defines the optical chamber. An entrance and exit are formed in the chamber for allowing entry and exit of the particle suspending liquid. The chamber itself is formed to allow passage of the particle suspending liquid therethrough in a thin stream with the particles in the stream passing through the chamber in sequence. A portion of the housing is formed from light transmitting material for allowing a beam of light to be transmitted into the chamber where it intersects the thin stream of particle suspending liquid at a junction point and produces resultant light upon intersecting said particles. A spherical shaped portion is formed in the housing and is concave into the chamber with the radial center of the spherical shaped portion located substantially at the junction point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein an a.c. signal charges droplets sprayed into a chamber as the droplets are formed. The frequency of the a.c. signal is high enough so that the individual droplets are charged differently than their neighbors. The differently charged droplets create a nonuniform electric field within the chamber. The nonuniform electric field causes particles, entering the chamber in a fluid medium such as air, to be attracted to and attach to the droplets thereby precipitating out of the fluid medium.

Abstract: A locking device for releasably securing a birdhouse upon its mounting pole. A locking plate secured to the bottom of the birdhouse has an opening through which the mounting pole is passed. The plate opening is larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the post. The plate is biased into a locking position at an angle relative to the axis of the post. A pivotal bracket is operable on the plate to bias the plate to a horizontal release position normal to the axis of the post. A lanyard secured to the bottom of the birdhouse is passed up the pole around a pulley wheel at the top thereof and returned down the pole through the bracket. A free end of the lanyard extends below the bracket. Pivoting of the bracket and resultant release of the locking plate is accomplished by pulling on the free end of the lanyard at an angle relative to the post to move the locking plate to its release position.

Abstract: In an apparatus which develops output signal data, a portion of a liquid containing particles is caused to flow through a sensing zone. Ideally the particles go through one at a time. Each particle sensed generates a particle signal having an amplitude proportional to the size or volume of the particle. The particle signal is utilized for producing the output signal data. The output signal data is a measure of the total volume of particulate matter in a quantity of liquid containing particles and is subject to error due to the occasional simultaneous presence of particles in the sensing zone which is termed coincidence.An error correction signal is also developed by the apparatus which varies in accordance with the repetition rate of particles passing through the sensing zone. The error correction signal is employed to correct the output signal data which is subject to error due to particle coincidence.

Abstract: A portable power supply circuit for supplying a high voltage corona in a portable electrophotographic apparatus. An A.C. signal comprising a series of pulses is produced for a predetermined period of time. The pulses are shaped by a shaping circuit which draws current during only a portion of the operating cycle. These pulses are coupled through a step-up transformer to a multiplying circuit which multiplies the voltage at its input to the desired corona voltage. The power supply circuit includes a portable source of D.C. voltage such as a dry cell battery which supplies the necessary current and voltage. The power supply circuit is designed also to provide a number of D.C. bias voltages of polarity opposite to the corona voltage.

Abstract: An electrostatic image recording device in which an image is projected by an optical projecting system upon a charged, supported electrophotographic member to form a latent image on the photoconductive surface thereof. A container of toner in liquid suspension is provided with a spongelike member interior thereof and which has a relatively rigid foraminous wall, the remaining walls being flexible. The container and the supporting structure are moved one relative the other with the foraminous wall proximate the surface carrying the latent image and the toner suspension is pumped onto the said surface flooding same. The pumping is performed by temporarily collapsing the flexible said walls of the container with excess toner sucked up by return of the container to its normal condition.

Abstract: A reversible sponge or foam rubber mop, brush or duster which includes a resiliently compressible block or sheet of a synthetic or sponge rubber generally square in configuration with its thickness substantially less than the length of its sides. The compressible block is arranged in a retainer of preferably resilient material which provides a holder for the resilient rubber block, the block being held in a folded condition. The block is frictionally engaged within the retainer by means of a T-shaped member having an elongate handle in the form of a mopstick passing through an opening in the block and an aligned opening in the retainer, the retainer having a flared entrance and an expanded interior so that the elongate handle of the T-shaped member may be inserted into the block, threaded through the opening in the retainer and the block pulled into the retainer by means of the handle pulling on the crossbar of the T, being held frictionally within the retainer during use.

Abstract: The conductivity cell is utilized in a particle study device of the type wherein liquid electrolyte containing particles is caused to traverse an electrical sensing zone of small dimensions, sensing electrodes being located on either side of the sensing zone. The conductivity cell includes two electrodes situated in the electrolyte and being coupled to an electrical sensing circuit including the sensing electrodes. The resistance across the sensing electrodes and the resistance across the conductivity cell electrodes are connected in series with the power source and function as a voltage divider. The junction between the two resistances is coupled to a signal detecting amplifier so that a change in the conductivity of electrolyte will cause a change in both of the resistances whereby the voltage at the junction between the two resistances is essentially constant.

Abstract: A rotary piston engine comprising a stator and a rotor including piston slides in the rotor, and working chambers between the rotor and the stator wherein movable parts are provided in the stator for adjusting the volume of the working chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining automatically the distribution of volume or mass of particles suspended in a sample. The sample is analyzed in successive sequences or sections each representing a magnitude of given particles. A counter is provided for counting the particles in the sections, and a measuring circuit determines a value which is proportional to the time required by the counter to obtain the number of counted particles. The values are transmitted by a differential circuit to a display device which records directly, such as in a graph, the distribution of the particles in the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the interior surface of an annular opening in a workpiece includes a baseplate and a set of elements circularly arranged and coaxial with a shaft or stud extending through and perpendicular to the baseplate. The elements are circumferentially spaced apart and are slidable radially of the shaft.Each element has a pair of aligned curved slots opening respectively to the opposite circumferential ends thereof. Biasing springs are secured to the baseplate and positioned thereon to extend from a slot in one element to the adjacent slot in the adjacent element. These biasing springs bear against the side surfaces of adjacent slots for biasing the elements radially inwardly to a contracted position. An actuating member which is in the shape of a camming disc, is movable relative to the baseplate and cooperates with the elements to move them radially outwardly so that they engage and grip the interior surface of the opening in the workpiece.

Abstract: A particle analyzing system of the type having an aperture retaining member for obtaining signals from microscopic particles suspended in a fluid which passes through a scanning aperture. The aperture opens on one side thereof to the fluid suspension and on the opposite side to a passageway in the aperture retaining member; the passageway is connected at an entrance end thereof to a source of clean electrolyte and at an exit end thereof to a waste collecting container or isolator and a vacuum source. A vacuum from the source is applied to the collecting container to cause the clean electrolyte to be drawn through the passageway and wash or sweep behind the aperture simultaneously with passage of the suspension through the aperture.

Abstract: A universal holder for objects such as test tubes, cuvettes, cells and the like comprising a stationary upright body having a pair of angularly arranged planar surfaces, the surfaces defining a V-shaped recess and a deflectable spring-biased member arranged for pivotal movement against its bias from a normally horizontal disposition extending into the aforesaid recess and the biased member capable of being deflected by the object as it is introduced in the recess. The planar surfaces may have matching elongate notches to provide a purchase for angular bodies, such as rectangular cells. Both the upright body and the deflectable member have slot means arranged to permit a light beam freely to pass therethrough and through the object.

Abstract: A method for charging an electrophotographic imaging surface includes the steps of reciprocating at least one longitudinally disposed corona electrode along the longitudinal axis and simultaneously applying a corona voltage to the electrode for developing a corona so that a substantially uniform corona charge is applied to the entire electrophotographic imaging surface. An additional step, performed simultaneously with production of the corona and reciprocation of the electrode can be the movement of one of the electrodes or the electrophotographic imaging surface relative to the other. Apparatus employed to perform this method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A backwash system including a dispensing cylinder and valve arrangement for directing diluent as a backwash from a source to a sampling valve utilized to make dilutions thence to a sampler in the form of an aspirator tube. The sampling is performed by means of the aspirator tube introduced into a fluid for sampling and a vessel is provided for catching the backwash fluid and aspirating same to waste. The vessel and the tube are positioned relatively to enable the backwash to be caught in the vessel only when diluent is dispensed as backwash. The aspirator tube and collector vessel are returned to their normal relative condition either by movement of the tube relative to the collector vessel or vice versa. Suitable controls are provided to assure that backwash occurs only when the tube and vessel are conditioned to receive same.

Abstract: In a sputtering chamber where there is at least one target of some material comprising at least two elements which are to be sputtered as a compound onto a substrate within the chamber, a target having a plurality of edges is framed by a metallic shield to confine the sputtering to a forward direction and the background gas needed for maintaining stoichiometry of the sputtered material is injected directly inside of the shield so that immediately upon entry into the chamber a substantial portion thereof flows over the target. A perforated manifold running the length of an edge of the target releases the background gas to the target along its length.

Abstract: O-cresolphthalein monophosphoric acid and salts thereof useful as substrates for alkaline phosphatase determinations are produced by reacting cresolphthalein with dibenzyl phosphite in the presence of carbon tetrachloride and an organic amine, hydrogenating the reaction product, recovering o-cresolphthalein monophosphoric acid from the hydrogenation product, and reacting the acid with bases to produce desired salts.

Abstract: An electrostatic imaging method wherein the photoconductive coating of an electrophotograhic film is charged simultaneously with its exposure to a scene to be recorded, the charging step ceasing when a level of charge has been reached which is optimum for the light condition of the scene and with toning being commenced immediately subsequent to the cessation of the charging. Light from the scene is cut off immediately prior to commencement of toning. The film utilized is capable of accepting a charge at a rate faster than the light of a scene to be recorded discharges the film.The method is preferably practiced utilizing a camera which includes projecting means for prjecting a scene onto the film, a corona generating system, a toning system, means for measuring the light coming through the projector, means for measuring the surface potential of a dark area of the flm while it is being charged and an electronic control circuit which operates the charging system in response to the measured light.

Abstract: A particle study device wherein a non-diluted specific minute amount of fluid sample containing particles is ejected by an ejecting mechanism into a flow stream leading to a sensing zone in the particle study device. The ejecting mechanism includes a hollow body having a thermal expansion device mounted therein. The temperature of the thermal expansion device is monitored and stored. The device operation then is initiated and power is supplied to the thermal expansion device to raise its temperature and cause it to expand thereby to eject from the hollow body a fluid sample. The temperature rise of the thermal expansion device is monitored and when a predetermined temperature rise has occurred indicating ejection of a specific amount of fluid sample, the power supplied to the thermal expansion device is terminated thus terminating further temperature rise and expansion.

Abstract: A pulse storing and retrieval circuit for storing and recovering serially received pulses to be processed includes a delay line having a plurality of output locations along the length of the line. A first pulse is coupled to the delay line for propagation therethrough and is coupled from the delay line to a pulse processor for processing. Logic circuitry in the pulse storing and retrieval circuit responds to a first signal indicating detection of the pulse by the processor and an indication that processing of the pulse by the pulse processor is in progress to cause the sequential coupling in a first direction of the delay line output locations to the processor as the trailing edge of the pulse propagates down the delay line.