Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster with a booster housing part includes a vacuum chamber and a working chamber separated therefrom by a movable wall, and a valve body part including a control valve assembly and an electromagnet assembly. The control valve assembly can be actuated both by an actuation rod as well as by the electromagnet assembly, in order to make connections between the vacuum chamber and the working chamber, or between the working chamber and the ambient atmosphere. To improve the heat dissipation and to simplify the assembly the valve body part comprises several separate portions at least the first portion of the valve body part being at least partially designed as a magnetic return of the electromagnet assembly and is coupled with the second portion of the valve body part.

Abstract: An airless paint sprayer includes an outlet check valve assembly having a dual spring configuration which allows for increased fluid flow through the valve without diminishing response time of the valve or the priming operations of the system. One of the springs is not engaged when the valve is closed and the other spring has a much lower spring rate and biases the valve toward a closed configuration when the valve is open, closed, and all positions therebetween. The dual spring configuration accommodates highly viscous fluids or paints with maximum fluid flow and no detrimental impact on the priming operations of the sprayer.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride film onto a semi-conductor substrate includes forming a plasma of a reactant gas mixture. The reactant gas mixture includes titanium tetrachloride, ammonia and nitrogen. The ratio of nitrogen to ammonia is established at about 10:1 to about 10,000:1 and the partial pressure of titanium tetrachloride is established to ensure formation of titanium nitride. The plasma is contacted to a substrate heated to a temperature of 400.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. This provides a high purity titanium nitride film with excellent conformality at temperatures which will not interfere with integrated circuits having previously-deposited aluminum members.

Abstract: A method of removing chloride ion, a compound thereof, or flash rust (metal oxide) from a surface contaminated with chloride. The method includes the steps of providing a surface contaminated with chloride ion, a compound thereof or flash rust, and applying a dilute aqueous solution containing an active agent selected from the group consisting of an amine, anionic surfactant, organic carboxylic acid, organic sulfonic acid, and mixtures thereof to the surface in an amount sufficient to remove substantially all of the chloride ion, compound thereof, or flash rust from the surface.

Abstract: A system for managing an assemblage of entities. The entities interface within the assemblage for control of primary information handling functions and further interface with the system to permit the carrying out of management functions. The system includes management modules adapted to carry out management functions by independently interpreting and executing commands, a kernel including a table of dispatch pointers for directing the commands to the respective modules in which they are to be interpreted and executed, and an enroller for enrolling new modules into the system by adding further pointers to the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping and holding glass during a glass grinding process. The glass gripping and holding apparatus includes an elongated top shank and an elongated bottom shank pivotally connected, with the top shank being inclined toward the bottom shank. Both shanks each have a respective glass-gripping end portion that oppose one another in generally parallel disposition when gripping a piece of glass. A spring operatively connects the shanks toward each other, biasing the glass-gripping end portions of the shanks toward each other. A generally circular boss is located on the bottom shank to facilitate mobility of the apparatus across a table surface of a glass grinder.

Abstract: A baseball batter training kit is provided which includes a plurality of baseballs each having different colored indicia on the baseball. A baseball batter is required to recognize and identify the color of the indicia after the baseball is pitched, causing the batter to focus on the ball as it is delivered by the pitcher toward the hitting zone.

Abstract: The present invention is an instrument (10) which includes a tubular section (12) having a wall (13) made of a material exhibiting superelastic characteristics and a delivery tube (14) having a bore (15) through which the tubular section (12) passes. The instrument (10) may be adapted for use in medical/dental and non-medical procedures. The superelastic character of the wall material is used in combination with the delivery tube (14) to alternately restrict the shape of the wall (13) and allow it to change to its unconstrained shape. Thus, the wall (13) can be sufficiently deformed to permit the tubular section (12) to pass in and out of and through the delivery tube (14) while at the same time enabling the tubular section (12) to have a shape when extended outside of the delivery tube (14) that is sufficiently bent or curved to be suitable for performing a desired function, for example a medical or dental procedure inside a patient's body.

Abstract: A pipe collar comprising first and second arcuate shell members, clamping means for drawing the shell members together around a pipe, and improved sealing means disposed in each of the shell members, for facilitating sealing engagement between the pipe collar and the pipe, and between the respective shell member sealing means.

Abstract: A growth factor protein similar in structure and function to hepatocyte growth factor has been discovered along with the DNA and cDNA coding for this in both the mouse and human. The DNA includes 18 exons and is homologous to DNA at the D3F15S2 locus on human chromosome 3; a region predicted to code for one or more tumor suppressor genes.

Abstract: A secure tool display includes a quick-connect pneumatic coupling and a cable extending therethrough. A cable stop limits withdrawal of the cable from a first coupling fitting mounted on the tool. The other end of the cable is attached to the display unit. When the coupling is connected, the tool is statically mounted and displayed. When the fittings or components of the coupling are detached, the tool can be lifted off the display unit and manipulated, but not removed therefrom beyond the length of the cable.

Abstract: A dispensing container including a receptacle portion for holding liquids and an upper opening having a closure device. The closure device is embodied in threaded cap which closes a relatively large opening in the top of the receptacle portion for filling purposes. The closure device includes a spout connected to the threaded cap for sliding movement between open and closed positions. The spout includes a plug member having a resilient static sealing element. A tubular closure element is secured to the threaded cap and includes a plug bore which receives the plug member and further defines a fluid flow path. A resilient dynamic sealing element is disposed on an outer surface of the tubular closure element and the dynamic sealing element is in continuous contact with an inner surface of the spout during sliding movement thereof.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an activated sludge treatment process for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater. The process includes providing wastewater influent and activated sludge in a stressed contact zone to form a mixed liquor. In a luxury contact zone, the mixed liquor is mixed and aerated and the organisms in the activated sludge take up at least portion of the phosphorus. The method further includes separating the activated sludge from the mixed liquor, and returning at least a portion of the activated sludge to the stressed contact zone. The inventive process accomplishes wastewater treatment without having to pass the wastewater through an anaerobic zone.

Abstract: A quilting method and apparatus in which ticking or facing material changes are effected, preferably under the control of a programmed computer or controller, by automatically retrieving, and preferably also splicing onto a web, selected materials from a facing material supply. The controller preferably also controls a quilter in the stitching of selected patterns along a web, and coordinates the positions of the patterns and material splices between the patterns, in response to measurements and calculations of dimensional changes between infeed webs, quilted tensioned web and cut untensioned panels. Storage compartments are provided for a variety of facing materials, preferably rolls thereof. A retrieval mechanism moves webs selected by the programmed controller to a feed position adjacent the quilter.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of forming microencapsulated food or flavor capsules as well as the capsules produced by the method. The method includes providing food or flavor particles to be encapsulated, and forming a mixture of a warm water fish gelatin and the food or flavor particles in aqueous media. The method further includes microencapsulating the particles with the gelatin at elevated temperatures by complex coacervation to form the microencapsulated capsules. If desired, the method may further include the step of separating the capsules. In a preferred form, the method is conducted at a temperature of about 33.degree. C. to about 35.degree. C. Preferably, the warm water fish gelatin used in the encapsulation method has a bloom of from about 150 to about 300 bloom, more preferably from about 250 to about 300 bloom. Many different kinds of food or flavor particles may be used, such as for example, vegetable oil, lemon oil, garlic flavor, apple flavor or black pepper.

Abstract: A skimmer/coalescer system includes a skimmer which skims a two-component liquid from the surface of a liquid mixture in a tank, and a pump which pumps the skimmed liquid to a coalescer for separating and collecting a lower density liquid component from the mixture and returning the rest of the liquid to the tank. The skimmer includes a housing submerged below the liquid surface in the tank, an outlet operatively connected to the pump and an intake which supplies liquid to the housing by gravity. The intake includes a vertically movable inlet which remains adjacent the liquid surface regardless of liquid level changes in the tank, thereby to skim near the surface where the lower density liquid dominates, and to enhance skimming efficiency.

Abstract: A method for treating bowel adhesions 20, 22, 24, 26 with an adhesion barrier 56 in the form of a flexible strip 76 of material is provided. The bowel 12, 14 is surgically accessed to expose the affected bowel portions 11, 13, 15, 17 and then the flexible strip 76 of material comprising the adhesion barrier 56 is applied to the bowel surfaces 50, 52, 54, 60, 62 of those portions 11, 13, 15, 17.

Abstract: An umbrella handle assembled from an inner sleeve fixed to the umbrella's centerpost, and a handle shell seated on that inner sleeve. The sleeve and shell each have a respective latch bores that are aligned to allow a latch button accessible from the exterior surface of the shell to operate an umbrella latch mechanism carried interiorly of the centerpost.

Abstract: An exercise machine for performing an incline press includes a frame, a declined seat connected to the frame along a vertical midplane and two independently maneuverable levers with upper rearward ends pivotally connected to the frame above the seat, on opposite sides of the midplane. The lower, forward ends of the levers are adapted to hold removable weights. Handles also extend inwardly, rearwardly and upwardly from the lower ends of the levers. Each handle is adapted to be grasped by a person supported on the seat and upwardly extended and adducted in an incline press motion against the held weights to move the respective lever along a vertical plane that converges inwardly with respect to the vertical midplane. This incline press exercise machine accommodates the natural musculoskeletal movements of the arms and shoulders of a person, thereby maximizing muscular benefit while minimizing joint stress.