Abstract: A container such as a barrel or drum is provided for processing of solid material or parts with a liquid. The container is designed with grooves leading to holes or slots in the side that draw liquid into the container due to the rotation of the container when it is immersed in a tank of liquid. The holes or slots have a small dimension in the direction of rotation to minimize the probability of solid material coming out of the container. The fluid flow caused by the rotation serves to increase the rate of solution replacement inside the container as well as to keep the solid material from falling out through the holes or slots. The container disclosed is useful in processes in the plating, etching, leaching, and surface finishing industries.

Abstract: A container such as a barrel or drum is provided for processing of solid material or parts with a liquid. The container is designed with grooves leading to holes or slots in the side that draw liquid into the container due to the rotation of the container when it is immersed in a tank of liquid. The holes or slots have a small dimension in the direction of rotation to minimize the probability of solid material coming out of the container. The fluid flow caused by the rotation serves to increase the rate of solution replacement inside the container as well as to keep the solid material from falling out through the holes or slots. The container disclosed is useful in processes in the plating, etching, leaching, and surface finishing industries.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for welding pipes and controlling the flow of purge gas through the pipes. Purge gas may be remotely controlled by a portable signal input unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment for supporting microfabrication tools, and in particular, to microfabrication tool pedestals including adjustable supports. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a pedestal for a microfabrication tool is provided. The pedestal includes a frame constructed and arranged to support the microfabrication tool and a plurality of supports movable along and connected to the frame. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing a supporting for a microfabrication tool is provided. The method includes providing a pedestal comprising a frame constructed and arranged to support the microfabrication tool and a plurality of supports connected to the frame, and laterally repositioning the supports relative to the frame.

Abstract: An improved sandwich structure including a top facing sheet, a bottom facing sheet, a core located between the top facing sheet and the bottom facing sheet, and a damping layer extending only partially across the core and not fully interrupting the continuity of the core between the top facing sheet portion and the bottom facing sheet portion to provide damping to the core without adversely affecting the static stiffness or strength of the core.

Abstract: An optical table including a top facing sheet with apertures therethrough for supporting components on the top facing sheet, a bottom facing sheet spaced from the top facing sheet, and a panel under the top facing sheet including upstanding ribs defining channels between the ribs on one surface of the panel wherein the ribs support the top facing sheet and the channels are located beneath the apertures in the top facing sheet for capturing spills through the apertures in the top facing sheet.

Abstract: Methods, and apparatus used in the methods, for stimulating, and monitoring the exercise of, muscles near a body cavity by transmitting electrical energy between an electrical source or processor and the wall of the body cavity. A flexible airtight sheath with a resilient skeleton and outer conductive bands is collapsed by vacuum and inserted into the body cavity. Air is allowed to enter so that the skeleton expands the sheath and forces the conductive bands against the body cavity wall. The skeleton may be a foam member, internal ribs or a separate internal frame. The leads for conducting electrical energy to and from the bands may be embedded in the bands for a substantial portion of the band circumference, or the leads may be connected to the bands by piercing conductive mounds on the bands or by being joined to conductive straps on the bands.

Abstract: An aluminum can melting furnace in which a slip stream of molten material is diverted from a main molten bath in the furnace, a vortex is formed in the diverted slip stream, and thin walled aluminum can feedstock is introduced into the vortex. The feedstock is immediately drawn under the surface of the vortex in the slip stream so the feedstock melts before it has a chance to oxidize. Hydrocarbons which are introduced with the feedstock are flash vaporized in the vortex. The hydrocarbon vapors are captured and conducted to the furnace burner where they are burned to increase the efficiency of the operation and reduce the pollution generated by the process.

Abstract: A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device has conductive and nonconductive segments which are interconnected to form the whole body cavity insert. The segments are connected by snap fit, threads or other interference or friction fits. The conductive segments may comprise a conductive polymer outer layer and an inner metal layer to which electrical leads may be easily be conductively and mechanically attached.

Abstract: A reduced horizontal stiffness vibration isolation system including a gas spring assembly with a load support interface portion and pivot device externally coupled to the gas spring assembly for allowing the gas spring assembly to pivot when either the load support interface portion or the pivot device is displaced to reduce the horizontal stiffness of the gas spring assembly.

Abstract: A heater for heating liquid by friction includes a rotor rotatable within a housing filled with liquid, the rotor having passages arranged to expel liquid through friction orifices by centrifugal force from a pair of inlet cavities on opposite sides of the rotor. The outlets of the passages lie in a common plane on the periphery of the rotor whereas the inlets of alternate passages open alternately into the respective inlet cavities. The housing has a plurality of outlets lying in the plane of the rotor outlets with one of the housing outlets leading to a heat utilization device while the other housing outlets are connected to by-pass passages leading back into the housing through the side or sides thereof. The constant in-flow from the by-pass passages virtually eliminates cavitation while the pre-heated liquid in the passages adds to the heat of the liquid in the housing otherwise frictionally heated by rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: The invention features a honeycomb table including a top facing sheet that may be perforated with openings, a bottom facing sheet, at least one layer of rigid corrugated material comprised of valleys and crests, at least one layer of honeycomb core, and preferably at least one internal stiffening sheet in preferably a permanently laminated composite. The longitudinal axes of the crests and valleys of the rigid corrugated material are aligned generally parallel to the top and bottom facing sheets. The longitudinal axes of the cells of the honeycomb core are aligned perpendicular to the top and bottom facing sheets. Every interface between a layer of rigid corugated material or honeycomb core and any other layer of rigid corrugated material or honeycomb core is preferably occupied by an internal stiffening sheet.

Abstract: An implantable system for Functional Electro-Stimulation (FES) is disclosed which includes an environmentally sealed implant case and a nerve cuff for attaching to the nerve. A plurality of leads connect the nerve cuffs to the case. The implant case provides redundant seals for entrance of the leads in a double wall/double environmental seal to provide long term sealing reliability for the case. Inside the case, the wires in each lead attach to connectors, which establish contact with an enclosed master circuitry case. The connectors allow the leads to be individually removed and replaced, thereby providing a maintainable system.At the other end of the leads is attached the nerve cuff. Each nerve cuff has a hollow, gapped cylindrical shape, and includes electrodes on its inner surface. The cuff is deformable to allow placement around the nerve, holding the electrodes in electrical contact therewith.

Abstract: A highly effective sleep-inducing pharmaceutical composition that causes few, if any, side-effects contains an amino acid and a cation in certain proportions. The amino acid may be tryptophan, cystathionine, or lysine, preferably tryptophan, and most preferably L-tryptophan, and the cation may be calcium, magnesium, manganese, or lithium, preferably calcium or magnesium, and most preferably calcium. The ratio of amino acid to cation is about 0.02:1 to 1.0:1 when the cation is calcium or magnesium, 5:1 to 100:1 when the cation is manganese, and 0.02:1 to 100:1 when the cation is lithium. The pharmaceutical composition may be administered in any conventional manner.