Abstract: The invention provides a head for an optical microphone/sensor, including first and second light guides; the first light guide being coupled at an input end to a source of light and having an output end portion for transmitting light onto a membrane; the second light guide having an input end portion for receiving light reflected from the membrane and an output end coupled to a photodetector; the output end and input end portions each having an upper face and side surfaces and being disposed in close proximity to each other and optically separated along adjacent surfaces; characterized in that in order to utilize maximum light energy transmitted through the light guides by the light source, reflected by the membrane and received by the photodetector, at least one of the faces or surfaces is configured to extend along one or more planes which differ from the plane including the axes of the transmission of the light energy emitted from the light source and received by the photodetector.

Abstract: A barrel type fish and/or particulate screen includes mesh stretched over a supporting cylindrical shell having closed ends. The closed interior opens to a fluid withdrawal conduit, which is connected to an outlet. An inner, substantially conical withdrawal manifold is provided with the base of the substantially conical withdrawal manifold connected to the withdrawal conduit and the manifold extending substantially the axial length of the cylindrical mesh. The substantially conical withdrawal manifold defines uniformly sized and arrayed flow apertures. These flow apertures have the same unit area per unit length of the substantially conical withdrawal conduit. This same unit area per unit length produces within the withdrawal manifold, a substantially constant velocity at all cross-sections of the manifold taken normal the flow along the major axis of the substantially conical shape. Flow velocity distribution through the metal mesh is maintained uniform at all rates of flow through the device.

Abstract: A rechargeable electric toothbrush 10 is received within a charger 11. The toothbrush 10 includes an outer body 12 that receives a toothbrush assembly 13. Within the body 12, there is located a secondary electric circuit 22 including a secondary coil 23. Upon the secondary coil 23 being energized, DC electric power is delivered to the batteries 21 for charging purposes. The socket 25 includes a primary circuit including a primary coil 31 that upon being energized causes the secondary coil 23 to produce an AC current, subsequently converted into a DC current for the purposes of charging the battery 21.

Abstract: A motor powered scooter for supporting a standing rider has a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a platform therebetween that supports a standing rider on the scooter. A shock absorber having first and second relatively moving ends for energy absorbing movement is fastened in fixed relation to the underside of the platform with one of the relatively moving ends disposed to and toward the rear driven wheel. The shock absorber can be protectively encased and held within the main structural tube underlying and supporting the platform. A rear frame for supporting the rear driven wheel is connected at a rotation point to the platform. A linkage has a first connection to the rear frame offset from the rotation point. This linkage connects at a second connection at the relatively moving end of the shock absorber. The rotation of the driving wheel supporting frame relative to the platform causes energy absorbing shock absorber movement.

Abstract: A catalytic converter is especially adapted for placement to a motorized scooter. The scooter includes a front steered wheel, a rear driven wheel, and a structural tube extending between the wheels. A motor driving the rear driven wheel has an exhaust emission line. An exhaust tube having first and second open ends is provided. The exhaust tube is mounted through a sidewall of the main structural tube with a first end disposed exterior of the main structural tube and a second end discharging interiorly of the main structural tube. The exhaust tube has a catalytic converter preferably at the second end thereof. A flexible connection is provided between the exhaust emission of the motor and the first end of the exhaust tube. In operation, exhaust flows to heat the catalytic converter concentrically of the main structural tube and the converter operates exothermically at high temperature at the second end of the exhaust tube.

Abstract: In the method for the determination of the pressure (p) in and/or of the through-flow (Q) of a liquid through a pump having at least one magnetic bearing for the axial journaling of the pump rotor (1), axial forces act on the rotor (1) of the pump during operation. The axial forces which act on the rotor are utilised for the determination of the pressure (p) and/or of the through-flow (Q).

Abstract: A thermal imaging system comprising a camera (11), a control device (12) which is operable to control movement of the camera (11) and operation of the camera shutter and a computer (13) which includes thermal image processing software which allows manipulation or display of thermal images collected by the camera (11). The camera (11) is operated by use of the control device (12) to expose a thermal image over a selected time interval to correspondingly select a thermal image over a particular selected temperature range. The camera shutter is operated at a selected frequency, and exposure time of the image is varied to acquire thermal images over different selected temperature ranges. However, preferably every image is taken at the same time exposure, which allows display of a continuous real time display of thermal characteristics of the object over this selected temperature range. Thermal information over the other temperature range can also be displayed or used as desired.

Abstract: A gobo having linear motion is inserted to the narrow iris slot of a conventional ellipsoidal stage light. The linear moving pattern includes a housing, a drive roller and a motor, a return roller, and an endless pattern loop. The housing has a narrowed end for protruding into the instrument at the iris slot and holding the return roller on one side of the light. The housing has a broad end for mounting outside of the ellipsoidal stage light for holding the drive roller and motor at the other side of the light. The broad end of the housing has two spring-biased hinged clamps for clamping the linear moving pattern into a single unitary linear moving pattern iris insert. A first motor clamp holds the drive roller and motor in place. A second pattern clamp tensions and dimensions the endless pattern loop for extension into and out of the iris slot of the ellipsoidal light. The endless pattern loop is first threaded to the return roller and the return roller mounted to the narrow end of the housing.

Abstract: An exercise board for accommodating the foot or feet of a balancing user during exercise movement has an elongated flat platform with opposite, typically upturned ends, similar to a skateboard. The board defines an upper facing side dimensioned to receive the foot or feet of the balancing user and a lower facing side. Resilient rocker-mounting ends are mounted to the lower facing side at either end of the elongated flat platform. Each resilient rocker-mounting end includes a rigid floor contacting rocker section and an elastic column. The floor contacting rocker section has a rounded floor-contacting surface. The elastic column is mounted to the elongated flat platform at the upper end, mounted to the floor contacting rocker at the lower end, and bendable both longitudinally and in torque responsive to shifting weight of a balancing user on the upper facing side of the elongate platform.

Abstract: The invention provides a smart optical microphone/sensor for sensing distances to a membrane or to a light-reflecting surface, including a source of light for illuminating the membrane or light-reflecting surface; a photodetector for receiving light reflected from the membrane or light-reflecting surface and for producing output signals; adjustable means for supplying power to the source of light, and a pre-amplifier for amplifying the output signals, whereby the sensitivity of the microphone/sensor can be adjusted.

Abstract: An interface device for placement between a PC and a peripheral device, such as a keyboard or mouse, enables a flow of digital data into and out of a communicating personal digital assistant (PDA). The interface device includes a central processing unit having an input/output to the PC typically at the PS/2 ports (keyboard and/or mouse). The interface device has two input/output ports (infrared and RS 232) for communication to a PDA. Finally the device includes a switch, preferably under software control, to direct and control data flow between the PC, the PDA, and peripheral device. Peripheral device (keyboard or mouse) to PDA, PDA to PC, as well as peripheral device to PC communication can occur. For example, the PDA can act as a touch sensitive surface emulating a mouse-pad wirelessly connected to the PC enabling for example mouse control of projected computer program images for overall computer program control.

Abstract: The mixing element (2) is provided for a flange transition (10) in a pipeline (1) and can be mounted between two flanges (11, 12) of the pipeline. It comprises a mixing-active structure (25) which is formed by one or two vanes (25a, 25b) within a ring (20). Two mutually inclined planes (21, 22) can be defined, with the one vane being arranged on the one plane or the two vanes being arranged on the two planes. The two planes intersect at a crossing axis (23). Closed sub-surfaces (52, 51′) as well as open pieces of surface (51, 520, 521, 522) of vanes form a surface pattern (5) which is formed asymmetrically with respect to the crossing axis.

Abstract: The method for the manufacture of sections of fiber-plastic compound materials is carried out by means of at least one draw nozzle (10). In this nozzle, fibers (41) which are impregnated with flowable plastic (42) are formed under pressure to a product (41) with a predetermined cross-section and consolidated with the withdrawal of heat. The cross-sectional surface of the draw nozzle is periodically increased and decreased in time in its entire shape imparting region, with a value for the frequency of the oscillating cross-sectional surface being chosen less than 1 kHz, preferably less than 100 Hz.

Abstract: The distillation plant comprises a column (1) and a heat pump (4, 5) which operates between a sump vaporizer (3) and an exhaust vapor compressor (2) of the column. The heat pump is substitutable by devices (6, 7) which can be switched to the sump vaporizer and the exhaust vapor compressor when required. These substituting devices comprise devices (6 and 7 respectively) for the production of vapor or the provision of a coolant respectively as well as connection means (63, 63′, 72, 72′). The coolants can be liquids (water) or gases (air).

Abstract: A twin shaft “compulsory mixer” having a capacity in the range of twelve cubic yards has a static mixing chamber bottom defined from two horizontally disposed and interfering cylindrical shapes. Two centrally disposed elongate rectilinear discharge gates are each defined from an end in the bottom of the static mixing chamber to abut at the middle of the static mixing chamber. At the middle bottom of the static mixing chamber, a tensioning rod is placed extending normally across the abutted ends of the two rectilinear slots. Two eccentrically mounted elongate rectilinear gates are mounted for movement into and out of sealing relation to the rectilinear slot centrally of the static mixing chamber. These gates are mounted centrally of the mixing chamber to a pillow block and spherical bearing arrangement and actuated at the respective static mixer chamber ends by conventional piston drives. Reducing the gates in length, reduces deflection making chamber sealing possible.

Abstract: A process of banner advertising display on an inquiring browser viewing a website over the Internet includes inquiring from the inquiring browser to a website authorizing display of banner advertising. Diversion from the website to an advertising system central controller occurs. The inquiring browser is supplied with code to enable sorting of a group of Internet ad addresses relative to the classification information related to the frequency of desired ad play. Sorting the Internet ad addresses relative to the classification information related to the frequency of desired ad play of each ad at the inquiring browser to form a sequential play list occurs at the browser. A process for accumulating the reports of ad play utilizing query strings is set forth in which the query strings are serially recorded, occasionally polled, and compiled into advertising system central controller in compatible reports.

Abstract: A slipform paver having a dowel bar inserter pan. The inserter pan has a plurality of dowel bar receiving stations therein. The inserter pan is movable relative to the suspended slip form such that the pan moves towards and away from the slip form during dowel bar insertion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a two-wheeled cart with an extended handle for the levered lifting and balanced moving of bales, such as bales of hay. More particularly, hay baled in the form of a rectangular solid is received by the cart at a hay-bale-receiving loader frame and lifted from the ground under leverage about the wheels applied from the handle used for pulling the cart. Once the bale is lifted by the handle and centrally balanced on an axle between the wheels of the cart, the hay-bale-receiving loader frame on the cart can be pivoted in a plane parallel to the axle of the cart. This pivot can occur from a lifting disposition where the major axis of a bale receiving frame is parallel to the axle between the wheels, to a transport disposition where the major axis of the hay-bale-receiving loader frame is normal to the axle between the wheels.

Abstract: The liquid distributor (2) for columns (1) comprises at least one tub shaped or tubular part (3) of a rigid material. Outflow elements (4) of yielding, in particular elastomeric material are tightly inserted into apertures (30) of the tub shaped or tubular part. A liquid (6) to be distributed can flow off in each case through at least one opening (40) in the outflow element. This opening has a precisely predeterminable geometry.

Abstract: A method of microdissection which involves: forming an image field of cells of the tissue sample utilizing a microscope, identifying at least one zone of cells of interest from the image field of cells which at least one zone of cells of interest includes different types of cells than adjacent zones of cells, and extracting the at least one zone of cells of interest from the tissue sample. The extraction is achieved by contacting the tissue sample with a transfer surface that can be selectively activated so that regions thereof adhere to the zone of cells of interest to be extracted. The transfer surface includes an activatable adhesive layer which provides chemical or electrostatic adherence to the selected regions of the tissue sample. After the transfer surface is activated the transfer surface and tissue sample are separated. During separation the zone of cells of interest remains adhered to the transfer surface and is thus separated from the tissue sample.