Abstract: Provided is a process for the preparation of an ultrapure hydrogen peroxide solution. The process includes at least one sequence which includes successively passing a solution to be purified through at least one bed of cation-exchange adsorbents (CEA) and at least one bed of anion-exchange adsorbents (AEA). The beds of adsorbents each exhibit a height to diameter ratio of greater than 3. Also provided is a plant for the implementation of the inventive process.

Abstract: A railway freight brake system for operating vehicles in a train wherein each vehicle responds in braking situations as if its effective net braking ratio was a desired train net braking ratio. Embodiments include vehicles receiving a brake signal and utilizing either a received train net braking ratio or utilizing a stored on-board train net braking ratio to control pneumatic equipment on-board the vehicle to produce brake forces on the vehicle generally corresponding to the net braking ratio of the train. Some embodiments use a common train line control to communicate both train net braking ratio and brake signals to the individual vehicle. Individual vehicles can receive periodic or initial train net brake ratio values.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a gradient index optical filter comprising a thin film having a low refractive index contrast and a specific reflectance function structured using the phase of the refractive index profile as a variable to permit closed form, constrained optimization of rugate filters.

Abstract: In a microprocessor-controlled electro-pneumatic brake control system for a railway train, pressure in the brake cylinder is maintained despite the loss of pressure in the "20 pipe" brake line, or failure of a key relay valve that controls pressure to that brake line. Feedback signals derived from the "20 pipe" brake line when found to be inappropriate after a predetermined amount of time are substituted for by brake command signals generated by the brake controller.

Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus condenses vapor in untreated gas discharged from a compressor of a gas drying system. The apparatus includes a radiator, a bypass line and a bypass valve. The radiator features a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The first inlet connects to the compressor from which it receives the untreated gas. The outlet connects to the next component in the gas drying system. The radiator condenses the vapor suspended in the untreated gas and passes aftercooled gas resulting therefrom via its outlet to the next component. The bypass line, through which the untreated gas may flow, connects at one end between the compressor and the first inlet and at another end to the second inlet. The bypass valve senses the difference in pressure between the first inlet and the outlet. The bypass valve also controls the flow of the untreated gas in response to the difference in pressure.

Abstract: A selection device for delivering one of two gases to an apparatus includes an apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and a gas delivery line connected to the inlet of the apparatus. A first feed line and a second feed line for respectively feeding a first and a second gas are provided. A first purge line and a second purge line are also provided, the first feed line being connected to the first purge line and the second feed line being connected to the second purge line. A common connection line connects the first and the second feed lines to the gas delivery line. An additional purge line is connected to the outlet of the apparatus. A first element, a second element, and a third element for creating a pressure drop are disposed in the first, the second, and the additional purge lines, respectively, the first element for creating a pressure drop and the third element for creating a pressure drop being flow-regulating elements, the second element for creating a pressure drop being a backpressure regulator.

Abstract: A method of maintaining carbon dioxide concentration in an aqueous solution containing the same, which entails introducing an amount of a gas into the aqueous solution sufficient to maintain a desired level of carbon dioxide in the aqueous solution,the gas containing from about 25-100% by volume of argon and from about 0-75% by volume of a carrier gas therefor.

Abstract: A total dose monitor circuit consists of three P-channel MOSFET devices packaged in a CD4007 device and an OP490 bipolar quad operational ampher used to measure and average the sensor outputs. The P-channel transistors in the CD4007 device are used as the total dose sensors in this circuit. MOS transistors are sensitive to total dose degradation and this sensitivity can be exploited in a dose monitoring circuit. The gate threshold voltage, VGS, will shift negatively as a function of total dose exposure due to the trapped charges that build up in the gate interface during ionizing radiation exposure. The threshold voltage shift is directly proportional to the total dose exposure level.

Abstract: Provided is a process for the preparation of an ultrapure hydrogen peroxide solution. The process comprises at least one sequence which includes passing a solution to be purified successively through at least one bed of anion-exchange adsorbents (AEA) and at least one bed of cation-exchange adsorbents (CEA). A non-zero proportion of the solution exiting from one of the beds is recycled to a point upstream of the one bed or upstream of a preceding bed or upstream of the first bed of the first of the at least one sequence. Also provided is a plant for the implementation of the inventive process.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, preferably intended for air conditioning in a fan installation, comprises a corrugated plastic element built up of heat exchanger packs. One of the air flows passes laminarly and unbroken in vertical flow paths formed between strips that hold the individual elements apart from each other. The other air flow passes through channels formed in each element. The walls of the element are thin and the thinner the wall thickness the better the efficiency obtained.

Abstract: An air brush is provided with a handle, a front body and a paint regulating needle. The handle and the front body together define a tubular cavity through which the paint regulating needle is carried. A needle chuck releasably holds the paint regulating needle in the tubular cavity. The handle further defines a portal through which the needle chuck may be accessed. One end of the paint regulating needle extends outside of the handle and defines a stop and its other end extends through the handle and the front body. The needle chuck may be loosened, at the portal, to release the needle. The needle can then be grasped at the stop and pulled out of the airbrush so that the needle can be cleaned or replaced without disassembling the airbrush.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled valve system is used with an EOT unit on a railcar remote from the locomotive of the train. The system includes a pressure transducer, a microprocessor unit, a valve device, a motor drive and a pneumatic drive. The microprocessor unit receives from the transducer an electrical signal indicative of actual brake pipe pressure and from the locomotive a brake command signal indicative of desired brake pipe pressure. The microprocessor unit issues a drive signal when the brake command signal requires a service brake application and an actuating signal when the brake command signal requires an emergency brake application. The valve device defines an elongated bore, a primary passage, a branch passage, an exhaust passage and an elongated valve body able to move reciprocatingly in the bore according to the operation of the drives. The primary and branch passages communicate with the brake pipe, and all of the passages communicate with the bore.

Abstract: First and second tandemly positioned electrically biased semiconductor members radiate microwave energy in response to the receipt of an excitation light beam having two wavelengths related to the bandgaps of the members. The projected microwave beam may be made more narrow and directional if two of the members are electrically biased at the same time. An inefficient frequency doubler generates the two wavelength beam enabling a single light beam to excite both members in a simple, rugged photoconductive antenna element.

Abstract: An instrument and method for optically calibrating and balancing low level luminances of lighted instrument panel displays within the operator station of a vehicle is described which comprises a self-contained, calibrated luminance source and a beamsplitter for combining and juxtaposing an image of the calibrated luminance source with an image of the luminance from a lighted instrument panel display to be calibrated or balanced, whereby the images may be compared in luminance, the lighted instrument panel display being adjustable in intensity using the vehicle instrument panel light trim capability.

Abstract: A new apparatus and method for dynamically absorbing resonant vibration in jet engine blades and other rotating turbomachine components over all engine speeds is disclosed. A distributed pendulum (a pendulum having its axis of motion inside its body instead of at an end) is mounted inside a jet engine blade to function as a centrifugal pendulum. A centrifugal pendulum can be tuned so that its natural frequency linearly tracks the rotational speed of the engine or other turbomachine in which it is mounted and can absorb resonant vibrations from turbomachine components whenever the frequency of a source of vibratory excitation from a so-called speed line of the turbomachine coincides with a resonant frequency of the component. The equations of motion of a distributed pendulum are derived to show that a distributed pendulum small enough to fit inside a turbomachine component can be tuned to track a turbomachine speed line by adjusting its mass distribution about its axis of motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly drying and curing a waterborne coating as applied by a spray gun, or other means, to a product traveling on a moving continuous conveyor track. The conveyor track passes through a drying section which uses recycled filtered air to dry the coating and then into a curing section which uses an irradiator and airflow to rapidly cure the coating. The irradiator is cooled using an air flow and a damper assembly system.

Abstract: A process for the separation of a gas mixture containing oxygen and nitrogen, including bringing the mixture into contact in an adsorption zone with a first selective adsorbent for nitrogen of faujasite type exchanged to at least 80% with lithium, in which the Si/Al ratio is lower than 1.5 and a second selective adsorbent for nitrogen of zeolite type exchanged with divalent cations such as the alkaline-earth metal or transition metal cations. The second adsorbent is characterized by a nitrogen adsorptivity C.sub.2 lower than the nitrogen adsorptivity C.sub.1 characterizing the first adsorbent, and an adsorption selectivity for nitrogen in relation to oxygen (1.times.10.sup.5 Pa, 20.degree. C.) higher than or equal to 3.

Abstract: A replaceable liner for installation in a material handling system where materials normally accumulate on an interior of a material handling apparatus, the liner characterized by being sufficiently large so that the liner is externally supported in a first normal direction when the liner is in a working condition, the liner characterized by being sufficiently strong so as to withstand without tearing a frictional sliding force produced by a material sliding along the liner even though the liner may be sufficiently weak so as not to be capable of supporting and confining the material therein; the liner having a first peripheral region for removably securing the liner in a working condition in a conveying apparatus with the liner further characterized by being sufficiently flexible so that the application of a force in a direction opposite to the normal direction liner causes the liner to flex and bend thereby dislodging any materials accumulated thereon.

Abstract: A device for delivering one of a plurality of gases to an apparatus includes at least two valves. Each valve includes a first conduit permanently connected by one end thereof to an associated sampling line and, by another end thereof, to an associated purge line. Each valve includes a second conduit and an actuator which can be switched between bringing the first conduit into communication with the second conduit and a position for isolating the first conduit from the second conduit. At least the second conduit is free of flow-stagnation volumes. The second conduits of the valves are placed in series in a common gas delivery line for delivering gas to the apparatus. The end of the common gas delivery line opposite the apparatus emerges in an associated purge line. Each purge line passes through an element for creating a pressure drop. A use of the device is as a feed for trace impurities analyzer an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer or a particles analyzer.

Abstract: A pair of interleaved finger-like electrodes are positioned over a pyro-electric sheet of polyvinylidine fluoride and a pair of coatings are formed upon the electrodes having different optical reflectance, and as a result, a light beam energy absorption differential will be produced between the coatings and the resulting change in temperature in the sheet material under the electrodes will cause a voltage to be generated. A differential amplifier is connected across the electrodes to sense this voltage, indicative of the detection of an incoming laser light beam. A light chopper is positioned to interrupt the light beam directed at a portion of the pyro-electric sheet.