Abstract: A DC to low frequency AC power conversion system includes two high frequency link inverters and a cycloconverter. DC input is fed to the high frequency links in parallel, and the outputs of the links are fed to a subtractor. The output of the subtractor is then fed to the cycloconverter. The difference between the first high frequency and the second high frequency of twice the respective frequency links is equal to the low frequency.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for obtaining an accurate replica of an active electrical parameter, i.e. a voltage or a current. The circuit is an improvement over prior circuits in respect of accuracy, both in relation to magnitude and phase. When providing a voltage replica, the principal utility is to provide a scaled-down replica of a high voltage that can be used for accurate measurements of power. In its applicability to current, the principal utiity is to provide an accurate scaled-up current reference source, preferably in quadrature to the input voltage, for use in calibration of reactive volt-ampere or volt-ampere-hour meters. The objective of improved accuracy is achieved by combining known scaling-up and scaling down circuits with a current comparator.

Abstract: The movement detector monitors the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal in order to detect components having a real-time frequency greater than 30 Hz and an amplitude greater than 18 .mu.V; a real-time frequency greater than 30 Hz and an amplitude between .+-.9 .mu.V; or a real-time frequency less than 1.2 Hz and an amplitude greater than 200 .mu.V. An output signal is provided when at least one of these components is detected.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method and a device for use in measuring the gradient of density in a fluid. The device is comprised of a laser for providing a columnar light beam and a photodetector axially aligned with the laser. The photodetector detects the displacement of the light beam caused by the gradient of refraction of the fluid. A unit is provided for converting the displacement into an indication of the gradient of refraction and thereby the gradient of the density of the fluid. For density gradients caused by concentration gradients, an additional unit is provided for converting the displacement into a measure of the quantity of substances in the fluid.

Abstract: A vapor deposition apparatus for continuously regulating the deposition thickness from vapor as it is being vacuum deposited across and progressively along one side of a substrate from one or more vapor sources spaced thereacross. The apparatus comprises a central shaft rotatably supporting hollow shafts in end-to-end relation, a series of profile discs on each of the hollow shafts and slidable radially thereon by a slot in each profile disc slidably locating on flats on the hollow shafts. The profile discs are placed between vapor sources, and the substrate moving through a vacuum coating chamber so that the profile discs form a mask controlling the vapor deposition across the substrate. The hollow shafts are coupled to electric motors which may rotate the hollow shafts in response to signals from deposition thickness sensing means.

Abstract: The invention provides processes and apparatus for the controlled addition of conditioning (polymer) material to sewage sludge to improve its dewaterability. These materials are expensive and overdosage is to be avoided, while underdosage causes difficulty in sludge handling. The principal problem has been the absence of a system capable of continuous determination of proper dosage. It has been found that shear stress tests with a viscometer result in characteristics that exhibit a unique peak when dosage is adequate or above. A control system controlling the rate of pumping of the polymer to mix with the sludge is operative by measuring the shear stress and increasing the dosage in the absence of a peak. Upon detection of a peak the rate of decrease after the peak is also measured and used to resolve the potential ambiguity of whether dosage should be increased, decreased or remain steady.

Abstract: A simple barrier of the type having a series of buoyant tubular sections interconnected by a central cable and provided with a depending skirt. A portion of the skirt that is not attached at the joints is adapted to form an upwardly directed channel which effectively prevents the passage of pollutants through the openings at the joints without the necessity of directly sealing the openings.

Abstract: The lighting panel has a first face for receiving light from a source and a second face. The panel includes a first and a second sheet of transparent dielectric material. Each sheet has a smooth surface on one side and is corrugated on the other side. The surfaces forming the corrugations intersect at 90.degree. the smooth surface on the first side is at 45.degree. to the surfaces of the corrugations on the other side of each sheet. The smooth surface of the first sheet forms the first face of the panel, the corrugated surface of the first sheet is adjacent to the smooth surface of the second sheet, with the direction of the corrugations on the second sheet set at a predetermined angle .alpha. to the direction of the corrugations on the first sheet. Light thus enters the smooth surface of the first sheet and emerges from the corrugated surface of the second sheet. The sheets may be substantially planar. At least one of the sheets may also include light release mechanisms. The angle .alpha.

Abstract: A drive means for a photographic film developing tank and a developing tank for use therewith, including magnetic coupling means connecting an agitator in the tank with the reciprocating-type drive means, such as a rack and pinion, and an electric motor.

Abstract: An improved railroad stub switch is described in which the axial rail tension or compression forces due to temperature fluctuations are transmitted through the switch by means of radius arms connected to both the switch and fixed rails, thereby eliminating the need for expensive expansion joints at the switch. In a preferred embodiment, interlocking point shoes are also employed so as to hold the butt ends in vertical and horizontal register and transmit a signal to the trailing side rail of the impending approach of a load from the approach side rail, thereby reducing batter on the trailing side rail.

Abstract: A real time control system and process for controlling predetermined operating characteristics of a welding mechanism movable along a workpiece joint to be welded, the workpiece joint having two opposed edges. A thermal radiation sensing device is responsive to thermal radiation energy emanating from a heated workpiece joint. The sensing device is positioned along a travelling path of a welding element of the welding mechanism, ahead of and in close proximity to the welding element, the sensing device and welding element being disposed on a common side relative to the workpiece joint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system. The control system controls the displacement of a working portion of an implement with respect to a reference position. The reference position can be the ground surface in the proximity of the working portion of the implement. A sensor is provided for determining the location of the ground surface to provide a reference signal. A signal generator is provided for producing a displacement signal which is representative of a preselected displacement. A comparator produces an error signal which is proportional to the sum of the reference signal and the displacement signal minus a null point signal. A servo mechanism is provided which is operable via the error signal to control the displacement of the working portion so as to substantially move the working portion the preselected displacement from the reference position thereby causing the error signal to be reduced to approximately the null point signal.

Abstract: A process is described for removing both high polar and neutral nitrogen compounds from petroleum processing liquid products and petroleum distillate fractions. According to the novel feature, a chlorosilylated silica gel is used as adsorbent for the nitrogen compounds. This adsorbent has been found to be superior to regular silica gel and commercial ion exchange resins for removing particularly the neutral nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: A radiometer of the switched type has an R.F. switch connecting a detector selectively either to an antenna whose temperature (in terms of noise energy) is to be determined, or to a reference temperature, i.e. a resistive termination. The detector output is passed through an amplifier whose gain is switched between positive and negative values (for example +1 and -1) synchronously with the R.F. switch. The output of the switched gain amplifier is integrated to produce a rising voltage when the gain is positive and a falling one when it is negative. When it is positive the detector is connected to the antenna. By means of a zero crossing detector, a counter is started when this voltage crosses zero. After a fixed period, the R.F. switch and switched gain amplifier are reversed by the counter to cause the voltage to fall in accordance with the temperature of the resistive termination.

Abstract: Semiconductive photoanodes formed of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) are known for use in photoelectrochemical cells. They have been made by various techniques, including chemical vapor deposition, thermal oxidation or anodic oxidation of thin titanium foils, hot pressing of TiO.sub.2 powder, and plasma spraying. The present invention provides a method for the fabrication of TiO.sub.2 thick film photoanodes, which method is simple, inexpensive and suitable for mass production of large area plates. The method comprises screen printing a film of conductive material on a clean alumina substrate which is then heated to fuse the conductive material into a conductive layer. A first layer of TiO.sub.2 particles in an organic carrier is then screen-printed over the conductive layer, at least 10% of the TiO.sub.2 being of anatase form. The structure is then heated to burn off the organic carrier and to transform at least part of the TiO.sub.2 from anatase form to rutile form, this resulting in good adhesion of the TiO.

Abstract: A foundry mould binder is manufactured by mixing at least one monobasic acid selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propiolic acid, propionic acid, and acrylic acid, with a precipitant for the acid, and water, the water being present in an amount no greater than 1.5 times the weight of the total acid content, calculated on that acid content being in a water free state.

Abstract: The salinometer is based on a direct determination of the conductivity ratio R.sub.t =(Cx/Cs).sub.t of sample water to standard seawater in a two channel, dual-cell, continuous-flow system. Each of the channels includes a conductivity cell with four electrodes immersed in sequence in the water flow. Two of the electrodes are current electrodes and the other two electrodes are potential electrodes. The standard water and the sample water pumped into their respective channels, are maintained at a common temperature by heat exchangers and a common bath. The salinometer circuitry include a first current source for driving a controlled current into the current electrodes of the conductivity cell to maintain a constant voltage across the potential electrodes. A second current source drives a current which is a linear function of the first controlled current into the current electrodes of the conductivity cell in the reference channel. The conductivity ratio R.sub.

Abstract: The electrostatic nozzle may be used to spray one or more charged clouds in different areas of an enclosed room to allow different materials to be deposited on different sections of the surfaces. The nozzle includes a conduit through which air passes over one or more airfoils to entrain a liquid across the surface. A charged electrode, facing the surface, inductively charges the liquid on the surface. The liquid is atomized at the trailing edge of the airfoil by a cross-current created by an air deflector near the trailing edge of the airfoil.

Abstract: A foundry mould binder is manufactured at least one acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, .alpha.-hydroxy butyric acid, valerolactic acid, .alpha.-hydroxy-caproic acid, tartronic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, mucic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, and glyceric acid, with a precipitant for the acid, and water, the water being present in an amount no greater than 2 times the weight of the total acid content, calculated on that acid content being in a water free state.

Abstract: Magnetron sputtering apparatus is described in which the target cathode is constructed of one material, for example chromium, with one or more other materials deposited thereon.A disc of chromium with nickel sectors is described as one target cathode to give a nickel to chromium ratio of 10 to 90 while rectangular and cylindrical targets are also described.