Abstract: A boost converter employs an isolated active snubber to reduce the losses caused by the reverse-recovery characteristic of a boost rectifier and the turn-on discharge loss of the output capacitance of the boost switch. The losses are reduced by inserting the primary winding of a coupled-inductor in the series path of the boost switch and the rectifier, to control the rate of current change (i.e., the di/dt rate) of the rectifier during its turn-off, and to create the conditions for zero-voltage turn-on for the boost switch. The energy from the inductor, after the boost-switch is turned off, is delivered to the output via the secondary winding of the coupled-inductor which is connected in series with a clamping capacitor and an auxiliary switch to form an isolated active snubber. The same technique can be extended to any member of the PWM-converter family.

Abstract: An wastewater treatment system is provided. The system includes a cylindrical tank having a sidewall, a bottom, an upper portion and a lower portion. A cone-shaped hopper, open at both ends, is positioned in the tank. The hopper's upper opening is larger than the lower opening.

Abstract: A disc clutch assembly for transmitting torque from a torque source to a torque destination is provided, which includes a first plate with apertures and a second plate located between the torque source and the first plate, where the second plate is in driving engagement with the torque source. Fastening members are used to secure the first plate to the second plate. Located between the first and second plates are a driving plate with apertures and a driven plate which has a frictional surface and an interface for engaging with the torque destination. A resilient member is secured to the first plate to provide force toward the torque source and to release the force. Substantially dowel-shaped members are positioned adjacent the driving plate and are slidable through the apertures of the first plate to be adjacent the resilient member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating wastewater is provided including a cylindrical tank having a top, a bottom, an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall. The inner wall extends from the bottom of the tank to a point above a desired water level. The inner wall, the top and the bottom define an inner aerobic zone. The inner wall, the outer wall, the top and the bottom define an outer anaerobic zone. Wastewater may pass from the outer anaerobic zone to the inner aerobic zone through holes in the inner wall. An open ended conical hopper is positioned within the inner aerobic zone with its smaller end pointed toward the bottom of the tank. Several radially spaced air outlet pipes connected to a compressed air source extend downward into the inner aerobic zone where air is discharged through the open ends of the outlet pipes. An inlet line connected to the tank opens into the outer anaerobic zone of the tank. An outlet line is positioned within the clarification zone to remove purified water from the tank.

Abstract: An improved vapor degreaser with a tank having a conventional lower portion with a solvent which is heated and cooling coils which largely combine the solvent vapor zone to a solvent vapor level. An upper tank portion rests above the conventional tank and has a second set of cooling coils. A first cover is placeable between the conventional tank and the upper tank portion. A second cover is placeable over the upper tank portion to provide a vapor degreaser with a much lower chance of any vapors escaping the degreaser.

Abstract: Sheet materials according to the present invention comprise a sheet material substrate, such as for example a film or paper sheet, with a polymer release coating overlying and adhered to a surface of the sheet material substrate. Single and multilayer release coatings can be formed on the substrate by vapor deposition of silicone acrylates and/or fluorinated acrylates. These coatings can be applied in thickness of 0.05 micron to 1.0 micron to achieve a range of release properties. These coatings can be applied in a very thin single layer on relatively smooth substrates or in a multilayer form on rough substrates such as paper. The new coating process described here has lower process and materials costs, improved adhesion, low slip, and excellent release characteristics.

Abstract: A system for constructing modular furniture from one or more file boxes. The system includes a rigid rectangular frame having top and bottom faces adapted to engage the file boxes. The top face has a rim extending up from the top face for surrounding a file box mounted on the top face. The bottom face has a rim extending down from the bottom face for surrounding a file box mounted on the bottom face.

Abstract: A handle device adapted to be mounted on a base such as a power supply casing, allowing the orientation thereof to be adjusted arbitrarily within a certain range, and able to be positioned at a desired orientation is disclosed. The handle device includes a securing member for mounting the handle device onto the base, a holding member having a vacancy therein for providing a user to hold the handle device therethrough, and a coupling and positioning member for coupling the holding member to the securing member, and allowing the holding member to be pivotally rotated relative to the securing member, and positioned at several pre-determined locations.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus, particular for use in conveying large products such as engines around a production line, comprises a pallet which is driven with respect to a pair of guide rails. Power supply rails are provided on guide rails and power is drawn from these as the pallet moves to continuously power the pallet without requiring any on board power supply. Coding means are provided at particular spaced locations with respect to the rails and means are provided on the underside of the pallet to detect the code and so signals to a control unit which identifies the location of the pallet or acts upon the code to move the pallet in a particular predetermined manner. An electronic tag is uniquely associated with a product to be carried by the pallet and data from this is downloaded to the pallet where it can be subsequently downloaded to a work station as the pallet passed the work station to instruct the work station as to the operation to be performed on the product.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing structure for holding a shaft rotating in a first direction includes a bearing having an inward wall defining therein a through hole, a bearing stand engaged with the bearing for supporting the bearing and having a cavity which is in communication with the through hole at the bottom thereof below the bearing, and a first set of threads formed in the first direction on a first part of the inward wall.

Abstract: A method for making a genetically modified plant comprising regenerating a whole plant from a plant cell that has been transfected with DNA sequences comprising a first gene whose expression results in an altered plant phenotype linked to a transiently active promoter, the gene and promoter being separated by a blocking sequence flanked on either side by specific excision sequences, a second gene that encodes a recombinase specific for the specific excision sequences linked to a repressible promoter, and a third gene that encodes the repressor specific for the repressible promoter.

Abstract: A projection illumination system which includes a source light with a projection axis passing generally centrally through this light, and dual-side light-gathering structure, including a reflector and a TIR lens structure generally embracing the source light on opposite sides thereof and along the projection axis, with this light-gathering structure being capable of directing, ultimately outwardly from the source light and unidirectionally along the projection axis, a major percentage of light generated by the source light.

Abstract: An self-regulating quarter turn faucet valve is fabricated entirely of non-metal parts for use in purified and distilled water dispensing faucets. The valve has wall dimensions that are designed to withstand the torque and tensile forces generated when the valve is threaded into a faucet receptacle and has key operational components located in non-stressed areas of the valve to prevent destructive shear forces during operation. A stacked polished ceramic disc arrangement is used to shut the valve on and off through rotation of the discs relative to each other to align and misalign wing-shaped openings formed in the discs.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and circuitry for igniting high frequency operated, high intensity discharge lamps by means of a dual resonant circuit driven by a nonsinusoidal waveform; typically a square wave in the preferred embodiment. A capacitor in series with the lamp is selected to resonate at the fundamental frequency of the applied waveform when the lamp is in the on condition, providing thereby the high frequency power to the lamp for its normal operation. A capacitor in parallel with the lamp is chosen to resonate at a higher harmonic of the applied frequency, typically the third harmonic, when the lamp is in the off condition. Hysteresis heating causes the ignition voltage of the lamp to decrease as higher frequency power is applied, leading to ignition of the lamp at the third harmonic without applying to the lamp one or more pulses of high voltage.

Abstract: A new and improved AC-to-DC adapter for providing DC input to a portable computer which is operable with a removable rechargeable battery is disclosed in this invention. The adapter is enclosed in an adapter box which is formed with a shape identical to the rechargeable battery. The adapter can therefore be fitted into the pocket made for the rechargeable battery to replace the rechargeable battery when AC power source is available.

Abstract: When proteins are purified using a protein-binding dye immobilized on a chromatographic matrix, the dye or a portion/derivative may leak into the eluant. An ion-exchange resin (e.g. Dowex-1) and a disrupting material (e.g. salt and a fatty acid such as sodium octanoate) are used to separate the dye from the protein to overcome the protein of the leaking dye.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for testing a manufacture. The testing system comprises at least two test means wherein each of the test means is capable of testing at least a performance parameter of the manufacture. The test means are distributed in a production line of the manufacture for performing the tests of the performance parameters on the manufacture.

Abstract: A fastener for securing an object to a threaded spindle comprises a nut portion and a flange portion rotatably connected so as to rotate independently. The fastener includes a bore therethrough having threaded and unthreaded regions, the threaded region for securing the fastener to the spindle.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes the natural damping of acoustic compression waves within an gas discharge tube, typically a high intensity discharge ("HID") lamp, to avoid resonant acoustic waves having sufficient amplitude to affect adversely the performance or lifetime of the HID lamp. The energy delivered to the HID lamp during each half-cycle of driving power is measured and adjusted such that the total time-averaged power delivered to the lamp remains constant at the lamp's rated power level, but the energy delivered to the discharge gas during each half-cycle is maintained below that level of half-cycle energy delivery at which acoustic resonance will overcome damping and build to harmful levels of amplitude. This is accomplished according to the present invention by varying the frequency of the applied electrical power. For a constant time-averaged power delivered to the lamp, increasing the frequency necessarily entails a reduction in the energy delivered per cycle.