Abstract: A probe station includes a fully guarded chuck assembly and connector mechanism for increasing sensitivity to low-level currents while reducing settling times. The chuck assembly includes a wafer-supporting first chuck element surrounded by a second chuck element having a lower component, skirting component and upper component each with a surface portion extending opposite the first element for guarding thereof. The connector mechanism is so connected to the second chuck element as to enable, during low-level current measurements, the potential on each component to follow that on the first chuck element as measured relative to an outer shielding enclosure surrounding each element. Leakage current from the first chuck element is thus reduced to virtually zero, hence enabling increased current sensitivity, and the reduced capacitance thus provided by the second chuck element decreases charging periods, hence reducing settling times.

Abstract: A casing spacer includes first and second elongated, steel shell members comprised of stainless steel or high strength steel with corrosion inhibiting coatings, with each shell member having a semi-circular cross section for engaging and enclosing a carrier pipe within an outer casing. Attached to the outer surface of each of the first and second shell members are one or more adjustable risers for engaging the inner surface of the casing in maintaining the pipe, or pipes, in fixed position within the casing. Each riser includes a runner on its distal end to facilitate positioning of the spacer within the casing. The casing spacer's first and second shell members are securely coupled together by way of flange and nut and bolt combinations along one edge and a hook and eye arrangement along a second, opposed edge.

Abstract: A probe station is equipped with an integrated guarding system which facilitates the use of the station for low-current measurements, as well as integrated Kelvin connections to eliminate voltage losses caused by line resistances. The station has a chuck assembly which consists of at least three chuck assembly elements. A first element supports the test device, while an underlying second element acts as a guard to reduce leakage currents. These elements are electrically insulated from each other and from their underlying supporting structure, which is the third element. Ready-to-use, selectively detachable electrical connector assemblies provide for signal and guard connections to the first and second chuck assembly elements, respectively, as well as providing Kelvin connections thereto. The capacitance between the respective chuck assembly elements is extremely low due to the provision of air space as the primary electrical insulator.

Abstract: A load is gripped between a pair of load-engaging surfaces while the magnitude of any slippage between the load and the surfaces is variably sensed. A slip-correcting system variably predetermines an increase in the grip sufficient at least to decelerate the sensed magnitude of slippage, and the grip is automatically variably increased accordingly. Preferably, the magnitude of slippage sensed is a magnitude of relative movement between the load and the load-engaging surfaces, and preferably the magnitude of relative movement is a time-based magnitude such acceleration. The predetermined increase in the grip resulting from the sensed magnitude of slippage is preferably a predetermined increase in the proximity of the load-engaging surfaces, rather than any particular increase in the gripping force applied by the surfaces. A preferred fluid-powered embodiment of the clamp apparatus is disclosed for use on lift trucks in handling paper rolls and the like.

Abstract: A sootblower frame and drive assembly has a pair of parallel spaced-apart longitudinal beams interconnected by plurality of rigid transverse frame members. Racks gears are mounted to the inside of the beams for carrying a drive carriage that drives a lance tube. The frame is rigid and resistant to torsional flex and has open opposite sides to increase air circulation around the sootblower.

Abstract: A blade mounting frame is attached to a support structure having an endless forming wire rotatably mounted thereon. At least one turn shoe is mounted to the support structure for guiding the rotating path of the forming wire. A blade assembly attached to the blade mounting frame includes a blade in contact with the wire for removing debris from the forming wire before the debris is caught at a nip between the rotating wire and the turn shoes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining integrated circuit layouts of a random access memory (RAM) from a virtual circuit description and specification of a process technology. Starting with high-level descriptions of a circuit, a virtual geometric description of the circuit is developed in terms of reference points relative to a substrate surface. When the process technology is specified, the relationships among the reference points is determined, as in the layout of the RAM. These relationships account for variable sizing of circuit features and pitch matching of circuit features. A connectivity model and a simulation model of the RAM are also produced by the method and apparatus. These model can be used to verify that the RAM is connected as desired and has the desired performance.

Abstract: A probe station is equipped with an integrated guarding system which facilitates the use of the station for low-current measurements, as well as integrated Kelvin connections to eliminate voltage losses caused by line resistances. The station has a chuck assembly which consists of at least three chuck assembly elements. A first element supports the test device, while an underlying second element acts as a guard to reduce leakage currents. These elements are electrically insulated from each other and from their underlying supporting structure, which is the third element. Ready-to-use, selectively detachable electrical connector assemblies provide for signal and guard connections to the first and second chuck assembly elements, respectively, as well as providing Kelvin connections thereto. The capacitance between the respective chuck assembly elements is extremely low due to the provision of air space as the primary electrical insulator.

Abstract: A load-handling parallel arm clamp structure for a lift truck comprises a slide guide frame having respective upper and lower pairs of elongate, parallel, vertically-spaced transverse slide guides with load-arm supporting slide members longitudinally movable thereon alternatively toward or away from one another in a mutually overlapping longitudinal relationship. Each slide member at least partially surrounds the respective slide guide upon which it is mounted, and each slide guide in turn at least partially surrounds a respective piston and cylinder assembly for moving the slides relative to the guides. The upper and lower pairs of guides are separated by a wide, unobstructed central vertical space through which the operator can view in a forward direction, such space being unoccupied by any view-impeding piston and cylinder assemblies due to their placement inside the guides.

Abstract: A portable display system including an array of modular corrugated paperboard panels arranged in a matrix having at least two vertically adjacent rows of panels. Each panel has peripheral flaps folded back to provide strength and to capture threaded fasteners that protrude from the rear of the panels. Attachment hinges engage the fasteners at the rear of the panels to align and join adjacent panels. A vertical reinforcing tube is attachable at each end of the display by passing through holes defined in flaps at the rear of the panels.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a process for producing concentrated suspensions of polyurea microcapsules especially suitable for manufacturing carbonless copy paper (CCP) are disclosed. Either embodiment can be a batch or continuous process. In the first embodiment, a liquid hydrophobic phase comprising a core material and polyisocyanate at least partially soluble therein is emulsified with an aqueous continuous phase including a polyhydroxylated colloidal stabilizer to form a suspension of microdroplets of the hydrophobic phase. A polyamine such as diethylenetriamine reactive with the polyisocyanate and a catalytic amount of an alkaline base are then added, initiating an interfacial polyaddition reaction at alkaline pH which forms the polyurea microcapsules. The alkaline base is preferably NaOH, KOH, or LiOH; the polyisocyanate is preferably a biuretized or isocyanurate-modified triisocyanate of a lower alkyl diisocyanate; and the polyamine is preferably added in a stoichiometric ratio relative to the isocyanate.

Abstract: A gas-assisted injection molding article suitable for plating and a method for plating the article is disclosed. A sleeve is selectively mounted on an upstanding gas injection stud formed on the molded article. The sleeve seals an aperture which extends through the sidewall of the gas injection stud to the hollow interior of the molded article. The sleeve is preferably formed of a heat shrinkable thermoplastic. After the sleeve has been mounted to the article, the sleeve is subjected to a source of heat such that it retracts and is securely mounted to the gas injection stud. With the aperture sealed, the article can now be submerged in a suitable plating bath or other liquid medium.

Abstract: A bell joint repair clamp includes first and second semi-cylindrical sleeve members adapted for secure coupling by lug members drawn together by bolts for positioning about a leaking bell joint. Disposed intermediate the bell joint and coupled sleeve members is a sealing gasket preferably formed of a pair of gasket members each having a trapezoidal cross section and comprised of a deformable, compressible material to allow the gasket members to assume the shape of and engage the spigot and bell-shaped ends of the connected pipe sections in a tight-fitting manner. Opposed ends of the coupled sleeve members are each provided with a retaining plate and pipe clamping arrangement for confining the gasket in a sealed manner between the sleeve members and circumferentially about the bell joint for sealing a leak therein.

Abstract: A thermoplastic article can be injection molded in a mold (10) which includes a cavity (28) defining the shape of the article, at least one thermoplastic entry aperture (23) which is adapted to receive molten thermoplastic resin from a nozzle (22) of an injection molding machine (24), a thermoplastic flow path (21, 26, 30) communicating with the thermoplastic entry aperture and the cavity, and a fluid flow passageway (32, 34) extending into the mold. The fluid flow passageway extends from an exterior surface of the mold to the thermoplastic flow path. A low viscosity fluid such as a gas can be injected through the fluid flow passageway and into the thermoplastic flow path. An end portion (44) of the fluid is flow passageway adjacent the thermoplastic flow path has a porous me lug (50) disposed therein. The porous metal plug includes a porous metal core (64) which permits the low viscosity fluid to flow therethrough but prevents the passage of molten plastic therethrough.

Abstract: A sealable, composite cushion is disclosed having a plurality of resilient support member horizontally disposed to one another and surrounded by a fluid impervious membrane. Each resilient support member has a known Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) value and is located in the cushion based upon medical criteria to provide zones of varying support. In an embodiment, the resilient members are bonded to the membrane and act as tension members to maintain the cushion's form while under a load. As a result, the cushion resists further deflection not only by the resilient members' resistance to compression, but also by an increased internal pressure. Accordingly, the cushion of the present invention is a composite of fluid flotation and compression resistance. A valve may be incorporated into the cushion to regulate the fluid floatation characteristics of the cushion or to assist in its transportation.

Abstract: Hand-held shirt-pocket portable instrument for quantitative measurement of glucose or analysis in biological fluids. The system accepts a disposable diagnostic reagent test device which has a reagent carrier and mode of identifying to the instrument the reagent lot characteristics. The instrument includes a housing structure having a visual LCD readout, a microprocessor, and photosensing circuitry which measures the change of color of the reagent carrier upon reaction in the reacting chemistry of the disposable test device. The housing also includes a spring arrangement for actuating a disposable lancet into the skin for generating blood. The disposable diagnostic reagent unit includes a configuration for transporting of the blood in the regent unit. The system includes verification and calibration sequences for the electronics, the chemistry of an unused disposable unit, the presence of a blood sample, and the ambient temperature. The system also provides for storing a plurality of analysis readings.

Abstract: A wafer probe station is equipped with a compact, integrated controlled-environment enclosure providing EMI shielding, substantially hermetic sealing for a dry purge gas for low-temperature testing, and a dark environment. The sealing isolation of the wafer chuck and test probe provided by the enclosure is maintained despite the fact that the probe and chuck positioning mechanisms extend partially outside the enclosure, with positioning members extending movably between the interior and exterior of the enclosure. Sealing is maintained by movable sealing members at the locations where the positioning members penetrate the enclosure.

Abstract: A return line for a probe station includes a sheet-like conductive strap having a first end connected electrically to a first probe and a self-coiling second end connected automatically detachably to a second probe, as by insertion of the second probe centrally within the coils of the second end. If the spacing between the probes exceeds a maximum distance, the strap harmlessly disconnects. The flat central portion of the strap automatically tracks any reductions in the spacing between the probes, which enables fast probe travel and minimizes noise pickup. Preferably a spindle rotatably engages the coiled probe and has a post member that carries the second end of the strap to a far side of the probe to improve tip visibility and electrical connection during close-in probing.

Abstract: An acoustical barrier, an aperture and a pipe or cable passing therethrough wherein the aperture has a number of radially extending slits which define a plurality of radial sectors which also extend from the aperture. One or more grooves are arranged in the sectors concentrically about the aperture to increase the radial flexibility of the sectors so that the sectors more closely conform with the shape of the pipe or cable passing through the aperture and thereby reduce the spacing between the slits and reduce the noise passing through the seal.