Abstract: A seating ring having a unique surface designed to engage with the convex outer surface of a valve disc, thereby providing a uniquely tight and bi-directional seal. The seating ring has a first, free end, an angled contact point adjacent to the free end, a convex sealing surface adjacent to the angled contact point, a hairpin curve adjacent to the convex sealing surface, and a second, mounting end.

Abstract: A method for mounting the pull head of a CZ crystal puller includes the steps of mounting the pull head on a frame which is supported independently from the crystal puller receiving chamber. In particular, the pull head is mounted on a rigid frame which is supported by the same surface that supports the melt charge crucible. The pull head is then aligned relative to the rigid frame, rather than to the receiving chamber, and can be accurately aligned with the crucible rotation axis and positioned in order to insure that its rotation axis is vertical. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of mounting the pull head on a plate which engages alignment pins attached to the rigid frame. The alignment pins insure proper alignment of the pull head relative to the frame. When the receiving chamber is raised to allow the crystal to be removed, the plate is engaged by the receiving chamber and lifted off the alignment pins so that the pull head moves with the receiving chamber.

Abstract: A clock compensation circuit includes a clock tree; a reference clock; a phase detector for detecting relative phase information of the tree clock and the reference clock; a controller, coupled to said phase detector, for determining and controlling the amount of delay necessary to shift the output of the clock tree in phase with the reference clock; and a programmable delay logic coupled to said controller. The programmable delay logic comprises a string of delay elements that selectively participate in a delay string for shifting the tree clock in phase with the reference clock.

Abstract: Impellers are provided which enhance the efficiency of surface aeration of a liquid, for example, liquid contained in open aeration tanks, in terms of the mass of oxygen transferred per hour to the liquid per horsepower used in driving the impeller. The impeller is an axial flow impeller and may be either a pitched blade turbine (PBT) or have airfoil shaped blades. In either case, the impeller has a portion which extends radially along an edge thereof which projects above the surface of the liquid being mixed in a vertical direction, a sufficient distance to substantially prevent flow of the liquid over the top edges of the blades of the impeller. Preferably, the impeller is rotated in an up-pumping direction and propels the liquid being aerated in a radially outward direction. A sufficient upward surge of liquid is produced so that the liquid is observed to splash back onto the surface a plurality of times in the course of operation of the impeller.

Abstract: A system for providing improved bulk liquid mixing and effective gas-liquid contacting for mass transfer of the gas to the liquid, especially a non-Newtonian liquid, the viscosity of which decreases when under shearing conditions (shear thinning), in an upright tank. A process, such as fermentation which produces commercial quantities of polysaccharides such as xanthan gum, may be carried out in the tank. An upright draft tube is mounted within the tank and has a lower end spaced from the tank bottom and an upper end spaced below the surface of the liquid in the tank. A plurality of mixing impellers in the draft tube are sufficiently close to each other to establish a field or pattern of agitation to cause shear thinning and upflow throughout the draft tube and which may produce turbulence at the liquid surface. A plurality of radially inwardly projecting, circumferentially spaced baffles extend from the draft tube and are proximate the mixing impellers to prevent swirling of the liquid within the draft tube.

Abstract: The uniformity of solid crystals grown by pulling a seed crystal from a molten charge material in a crucible is increased by eliminating vibration by supporting a housing for the solid crystal on a vibration isolator which rests on a supporting floor. Vibration isolators may also be placed between a crucible lift and rotation mechanism and the supporting floor. The crystal pull head for pulling the seed crystal also can be isolated from the remainder of the apparatus by vibration isolators.

Abstract: A crystal-growing machine (10) includes a furnace chamber (12) and two loading chambers (14 and 16) that permit simultaneous processing operations. At least one of the two loading chambers (14 and 16) includes a lifting mechanism (36) for pulling a crystal (40) from a melt (20) in the furnace chamber (12). A positioning mechanism (60) disengages one of the loading chambers (14 and 16) from the furnace chamber (12) for cooling the crystal (40) in an evacuated environment and engages the other of the loading chambers (14 and 16) for simultaneously recharging the melt (20) or starting growth of another crystal.

Abstract: An auto synchronous output module for use at a plurality of zones in a fire alarm and detection system consisting of a power source and output devices selectively coupled to the power source so as to provide audible and visual signals, and a microprocessor within the module for coupling to a data line so as to enable transmission of data signals to and from a loop controller. Moreover, there is within the processor, responsive to an activate command from the loop controller for applying the power source to the output devices responsive to an alarm condition. In addition, within the processor, responsive to a synchronize command, sent subsequently to the activate command, from the loop controller, for applying power to the output devices in synchronism with application of other power sources to output devices at other respective modules.

Abstract: A mixing process may be carried out in a tank of a certain diameter. The process may also be constrained to the use of an impeller of certain diameter in order to obtain the flow pattern desired to carry out the process. The power consumption of the system which may be expressed in terms of flow per unit (Q/P) is optimized for the impeller diameter to tank diameter (D/T) constraint by utilizing an axial flow blade, preferably having camber and a tip chord angle at the tip and an angle near the attachment to the shaft (the hub) which rotates the impeller, where the tip chord angle and the twist the difference between the blade angle (between the chord and a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft between the tip and hub) are varied in opposite senses; for example, increasing the tip chord angle to provide a more D/T for a more optimum Q/P to which the process is constrained and then reducing the twist to maintain the power efficiency at the higher tip chord angle.

Abstract: A crystal growing system has a plurality of crystal growing stations which are each comprised of a crucible, furnace, vacuum chambers and related equipment which is continuously used during the actual crystal growing process. A central process control console is connected to each crystal growing station so that growing parameters for all stations can be controlled from a single location. A common server unit services all crystal growing stations. The server unit is movable so that it can be positioned at each station both prior to initiating crystal formation and subsequent to completing crystal formation in order to service the station before and after the crystal growing operation. The server unit comprises a movable support structure which can be rolled along a set of tracks to be positioned sequentially adjacent to each station. The server unit includes a main hoist constructed to move a receiving chamber, either alone or together with a transition chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a configuration programming system for a life safety network in which a remote computer system downloads one or more module databases to a panel subsystem connected to various input and output devices. The panel subsystem includes interconnected target modules having a processor and a memory portion. The memory portion of each target module stores an executable code and a particular module database. For each target module, the computer system generates a source code of descriptive labels and rules, converts the source code to the module database, and downloads the module database to the target module. The module database provides the executable code with module-specific information for controlling the input devices and said plurality of output devices.

Abstract: A field programmable audible signal having voice message annunciating capability and a field programming device. The signal has two separate field programming paths. One path includes a built in microphone and the other is a facility to receive a download voice message from a field programming device as by a cable that plugs into both the signal and the programming device. The field programming device is capable of providing either of two messages during a download operation. The field programming device includes a record facility to change at least one of the messages and is small enough to fit in a hand held housing.

Abstract: A puller apparatus for a Czochralski crystal puller system is provided which includes a primary puller chuck and a secondary puller chuck. The primary puller chuck is attached to a seed crystal. The secondary puller chuck is shaped to enclose and retain a portion of a growing crystal so that the growing crystal can be pulled by the secondary puller chuck.

Abstract: In order to efficiently mass transfer from gas, particularly air, into liquid or liquid suspensions with enhanced efficiency in terms of the mass of the gas transferred to the liquid, the gas is released or sparged through a plurality of open pipes which are disposed in a space between the bottom of the tank containing the liquid or liquid suspension and an axial flow impeller which creates a flow path downwardly past the outlet ends of the pipes. Turbulence is enhanced even though the air leaves the pipes at low velocity rather than in a jet through the use of a Bernoulli air trapping ring and plates. The ring and plates encounter the flow produced by the axial flow impeller successively. The ring distributes the air and assists in defining a low pressure region below the ring. A low pressure region also is defined by the plates on the underside thereof. The underside of the plates is in the vicinity of the outlets of the pipes.

Abstract: A maintenance free dehydrating breather apparatus for equipment such as oil cooled transformers and the like includes a cap and vessel enclosing a container for desiccant. A heater is mounted within the container in contact with the desiccant. The apparatus is connected through the cap to the equipment being supplied with dehydrated air. When the equipment requires dehydrated air, it draws air in through a vent valve in the vessel and thence through walls of the container and the desiccant. When the equipment expels air, the air is passed out through the vent valve, which otherwise normally seals off the interior of the vessel from the moisture in outside air. At selected intervals, for a selected period of time, a heater within the container is supplied with electrical power to heat the desiccant to drive off the moisture therefrom, which condenses on the walls of the vessel and flows to the bottom of the vessel where it is discharged through the vent valve.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a tube having locking apparatus at one end that is inserted into a hinge joint in a first direction. A lead wire is inserted into the tube in the opposite direction and locked in place within the tube. Then the tube is withdrawn from the joint with the lead wire still attached. The apparatus also includes a web shaped bib member having at least one opening therein for gripping by a human hand to assist in positioning the belt. The method of the invention has application to a method of securing the first end of a conveyor belt with respect to the second end of the conveyor belt wherein the first end and second end each include part of a hinged joint that includes a plurality of cylindrical section shaped members.

Abstract: There is provided an audio communication system for a life safety system. The audio communication system includes an audio data line having a plurality of audio channels for transmitting audio data and a CPU for controlling the transmission of the audio data along the audio data line. An audio source module and an audio amplifier module are coupled to the audio data line. To produce an audible sound, the CPU selects a particular channel of the plurality of audio channels for transmitting the audio data and sends this selection to the audio source module. The audio source module then places one or more audio packets, corresponding to the audible sound, on the selected channel. The audio amplifier module then receives a signal from the CPU that identifies the selected channel and, thus, the audio amplifier module will know which channel to find the audio packets. The audio packets are converted and directed to speakers to produce the audible sound.

Abstract: There is provided an system and method for calibrating weigh assemblies of bulk material feeders using test chains of known weight and pitch. In particular, the present invention is a calibration checking system for a belt-type gravimetric feeder or conveyor having a weigh span section and comprises a continuous conveyor belt, at least one pair of support rollers and at least one weigh roller. A particular weigh roller is disposed under an upper strand of the conveyor belt and equidistant from each of the support rollers so that they are in planar alignment with one another. The calibration checking assembly also comprises a test chain having a chain pitch that is integrally divisible into the pitch of the weigh span section. In addition, portions of the conveyor belt on both sides of the weigh span are inclined equally at a single particular angle relative to the weigh span section.

Abstract: A valve including a valve body having a centrally disposed aperture, a rotatable shaft, and a valve disc. The disc has a circumference with an outer edge and is disposed about the shaft such that the disc rotates to an open position and a closed position within the aperture. The valve body further includes a body moment arm about the circumference of the aperture, a body annular recess about the body moment arm and an annular seating ring retainer also about the circumference of the aperture. The seating ring retainer includes a retainer moment arm opposing the body moment arm and a retainer annular recess, a portion of which adjoins the body annular recess. An annular seating ring, also disposed about the circumference of the aperture, has a first end including a tip and a sealing surface adapted to contact the outer edge of the disc when the disc is in the closed position.