Abstract: This invention relates to the control of the temperature of heated fluid flow through a so-called single pass electrical heater. Specifically, a controller and accompanying flow circuit including a flow through single pass electrical heater is disclosed which provides for heating of water upon initiation of flow. A two stage control protocol is utilized for routing current under precise control to the heater element. In the first protocol utilized at start up to a control temperature limit slightly below the temperature set point, phase angle of current turn on with zero crossing current turn off control a 220 volt current to the single pass heater element. Once the control temperature is achieved, incremental adjustment of phase angle thereafter occurs with rapid asymptotical approach of the output temperature of the flowing water to a preselected temperature "set point" occurs.

Abstract: A system for issuing a family of instructions during a single clock includes a decoder for decoding the family of instructions and logic, responsive to the decode result, for determining whether resource conflicts would occur if the family were issued during one clock. If no resource conflicts occur, an execution unit executes the family regardless of whether dependencies among the instructions in the family exist.

Abstract: An invention providing a hard limiter between the pulse width modulator and output drive transistors of a class-D amplifier is disclosed. The limiter functions by controlling the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator output, which directly corresponds to the magnitude of the voltage appearing across the load output transducer. The pulse width modulated (PWM) signal is compared to the outputs of a pair of one-shot circuits (single pulse generators). If either the positive pulse or the negative pulse of the PWM signal is shorter than the one-shot pulse, then the one-shot pulse is substituted for the PWM pulse. This sets the maximum and the minimum values for the duty cycle of the PWM signal, thereby limiting the positive and negative value of the corresponding output voltage.

Abstract: A head holder with the following characteristics: it is compatible with MR (no metallic parts); it is adjustable for use with adults and children; it does not produce any degradation of imaging or spectroscopy raw data; it does not induce claustrophobia; it can be used as a fixation device for cervical spine MR examinations; and it can operate with any MR unit. A strap is placed around the head of the patient at the forehead, is tightened, and then the head with band attached is positioned for optimal comfort and examining advantage. Lock screws are then tightened, holding the head comfortably in three-dimensional space. Only a single band is placed over the forehead of the person and the rest of the fixation is provided by adjusting and locking screws located in the base and along the sides of the holder. This prevents the patient from being able to rotate his or her head from side to side or up and down. The holder is designed to fit into the MR table.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gear pump which is especially suitable for discharging highly viscous media from a vacuum against a high delivery pressure. It includes a pair of gear wheels (2) and an inlet and outlet area in one housing. The inlet (4) has an enlargement (10) that extends at least as far as the plane (11) of the gear wheel axes (12). The length R of this enlargement parallel to the plane of the gear wheel axes and at right angles to the gear wheel axes is larger than the length D of the pair of gear wheels. According to this invention the enlargement (10) of gear wheels (2) has a width c in the direction of the gear wheel axes (12) which is greater than the tooth width T.

Abstract: A high speed propane power buffer is provided with a dust evacuation system. A peripheral skirt is telescopically depended from a hood overlying the high speed rotating buffer pad. This skirt, at the extremity adjacent the surface to be polished, is supplied with angularly inclined grooves sloped away from the radial disposition with respect to the buffer. These angularly inclined grooves slope from the outside of the skirt to the inside of the skirt in the direction of buffer disc rotation at the disc periphery and are maintained by the telescoping skirt immediately adjacent the surface being polished. Entrained air is drawn at the surface being polished in the direction of buffer disc rotation from the outside of the skirt to the inside of the skirt through the slanting louvers establishing a buffer dust confining boundary at the depending peripheral skirt immediately adjacent the floor.

Abstract: The Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) plant steam generators, which are normally located inside the primary containment, are located outside, in separate structures. This arrangement provides for the removal or repair of the individual "leaky" steam generators, while the others remain operational. It also significantly reduces the size and thereby the cost of the containment.

Abstract: An imaging method creates a two-dimensional image of a voltage distribution or a capacitance distribution of a substrate under test using an electro-optic modulator. A coarse modulator calibration determines the effect of non-uniformities in the modulator and determines a look-up table relating the gap distance between the modulator and the substrate to the intensity of the light emerging from the modulator. A positioning means calibration determines a look-up table relating control voltage to response by the positioning means. The modulator is moved over a portion of the substrate and then undergoes a positioning step, a fine onsite calibrating step, and a measuring step. The positioning step can be accomplished using the intensity of emerging light to determine modulator gap distance, and the response verses control voltage look-up table to determine a control signal to vertically position the modulator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the generation of smoothness in paper. The paper (1) is thereby supplied to the rolls (2) of the smoothing mechanism with a moisture distribution which is characterized in that the moisture content in the inner layers of the paper is substantially smaller or at least as large as in the outer layers. This can be achieved with the aid of a dielectric paper web heating device (3) which is positioned in front of the rolls (2) of the smoothing mechanism. Through the invention less energy is to be required for the same smoothness values and a lower reduction in volume is to take place.

Abstract: An EPR imager and spectrometer includes pulse generating system for generating broadband pulses having an RF carrier frequency that is not highly absorbed by biological samples. The pulse generating system includes up and down chirp convertors for frequency modulating a carrier frequency pulse and compressing the frequency modulated pulse to form a broadband excitation pulse of high energy. Such a machine could form the basis of a clinical imaging device capable of high sensitivity to free radical species in human patients.

Abstract: Rocket motors are constructed by encasing a solid porous poly(vinyl alcohol) core in the shape of the propellant grain with motor casing material in the same manner as motor casing material is conventionally applied over a disposable or removable mandrel. The motor is then completed by filling the open passages of the core with liquid oxidizer. When the liquid oxidizer permeates the poly(vinyl alcohol), the result is a solid continuous propellant grain of rubbery consistency. Aluminum powder may be incorporated in either the porous poly(vinyl alcohol) or the liquid oxidizer to achieve a fuel-enhanced propellant.

Abstract: A bus system wherein N-bit devices (12b,12c) attached to the lower half (30L) of a 2N-bit bus (30) communciate with 2N-bit (12a, 12d) devices attached to the full bus. Bi-directional registered transceivers (60,62,65,67) are coupled between the upper and lower halves of the bus. The N-bit devices are capable of asserting a pair of signals called HOLDN and LATCHN. For a 2 N-bit source device transmitting data to an N-bit sink device, the 2 N-bit source puts 2 N bits of data on the upper and lower halves of the bus during a given cycle, during which the N-bit sink device samples the N bits on the lower half of the bus. The assertion of HOLDN causes the N bits on the upper half of the bus to be latched and subsequently driven onto the lower half of the bus. Where an N-bit source device is communicating to a 2 N-bit sink device, the N-bit device puts the high order N bits and low order N bits of data on the lower half of the bus on successive cycles.

Abstract: An integrated circuit voltage controlled attenuator which reduces control voltage feedthrough by employing NPN transistors for both sets of current steering elements is disclosed. A pair of emitter coupled NPN transistors are provided, connected to a common current source. The collector currents of these transistors form input currents of two precision PNP current mirrors. Output currents from the mirrors are coupled to a second pair of emitter coupled NPN transistors, having a current source connected to their emitters, whose value is adjusted by feedback to exactly match the sum of output currents of the precision mirrors. A single set of control voltages is supplied to both sets of emitter coupled NPN transistors. Signal input and output current is coupled from the precision current source output legs and made available in voltage form through operational amplifiers which perform input voltage to current, and output current to voltage conversions, respectively.

Abstract: A pnp device in a BiCMOS structure (1). PNP transistors (4) are fabricated without the need for additional process steps on the same substrate as npn (2), PMOS (8), and NMOS (6) devices. The process not only requires a minimum number of additional process steps, but results in devices with near optimum device characteristics.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for connecting a working implement to a front end loading tractor or other heavy load carrying machinery. The latching mechanism has a plate assembly, a pivotal coupling device, a cross rod mounted on the tractor, a latch device, and a locking device for releasably retaining a first and a second pivotable members. The pivotal coupling device includes a coupling formed on the plate assembly, and a receiver formed on the tractor for relatively rotatably receiving the coupling. The latch device includes the first and second pivotable members attached to the plate assembly to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. The first and second pivotable members define recesses having an opening for receiving the cross rod when in the first position. The opening is closed when the pivotable members are in the second position, to retain the cross rod received.

Abstract: A reactor tube for supercritical water oxidation is designed to supply a thin, continuous layer of water along the inner surface of the reaction zone by a wall lining formed of laminated platelets individually etched and superimposed to form an array of engineered fluid passages through the wall. Each passage includes a flow metering channel of closely controlled configuration to impose a preselected level of resistance to water flowing through it, plus a distribution section which distributes the water emerging from the flow metering channel over the length of a slot-shaped exit port. The exit port is arranged in conjunction with neighboring exit ports in an array over the inner surface of the reactor such that the emerging water forms a continuous film over the surface, thereby protecting the surface from corrosion and salts deposition from the supercritical reaction medium.

Abstract: Lightweight compressed gas cylinders are incorporated into a module which contains manifolding and which is designed for easy loading, unloading and transport on a flat-bed truck or other vehicle, particularly a roll-on roll-off transport truck, which is a specialized truck for mechanized handling of large containers. The module eliminates the need to retain the vehicle itself at the site of use. While a variety of cylinders of composite construction to achieve light weight can be used, certain novel composite cylinders whcih are particularly useful are also disclosed. These cylinders have a lightweight metallic liner or core cylinder wrapped with three layers of wound fiber. The inner and outer layers are axially-wound glass fiber and the intermediate layer is hoop-wound carbon fiber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ablation of cardiac tissue includes a catheter (2, 60) having an elongated flexible body (6, 64), a tissue characterization assembly including a transducer (34) at the distal end (16) of the body and a tissue ablation assembly having a tissue ablation tip (32) at the distal end of the body. The tissue ablation tip is positioned adjacent the tissue to be ablated using the visualization assembly and then activated.

Abstract: The container for packing hollow endoprostheses (8) comprises two germ-proof wrappings (1, 2). In accordance with the invention the inner wrapping (1) consists of a water-tight wall (10, 11) and various connection points (40, 50, 60). At least two of the connection points (40) are provided as access into the cavity of the prosthesis (8) and one is provided as an outlet (50) for liquids for treating the prosthesis. The outer wrapping (2) comprises through-pieces (42, 52, 62), which are associated with the connection points of the inner wrapping. The two wrappings are permeable to gas at least some regions. In accordance with the invention the container has a second application apart from its protective function: for example, in the case of a hybrid prosthesis for vascular replacement, to perform the charging of the prosthesis with the patient's own endothelial cells in the container.