Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods that increase radiant energy output, such as by using the waste airflow of combusted gas and/or ambient airflow resulting from convection, or by reducing or avoiding cooling effects of such airflows. In one example, the collected energy can be used to drive other secondary radiant sources or to preheat combustion air or ambient air. In another example, segmented secondary radiant sources are thermally isolated from each other to operate as a cross flow exchanger that exchanges thermal energy from a heated gas to a heated surface that provides radiant energy output. In a further example, a re-radiant membrane can separate the radiant source from the environment and/or reconfigure the effective shape of the primary radiant energy source.

Abstract: A positive-powered lens for collecting and organizing the light output from a plurality of light sources into a single secondary source that has an anterior surface, upon which are disposed light-collecting tessellates that are arranged in an ordered geometrical (e.g., a square, rectangular, circular, or oval) pattern surface, and a posterior surface that is convex. The tessellates can have a common surface equation a different surface equation but equivalent focal lengths. The tessellates are associated with a plurality of light sources, each having a proximal face that is coplanar with the focal planes of the tessellates.

Abstract: In an apparatus for treating unsafe water by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, a reactor vessel has a lower chamber provided with an inlet arranged to admit unsafe water flowing into the lower chamber, an upper chamber disposed above the lower chamber and provided with an outlet to discharge irradiated water from the upper chamber, a treatment surface disposed within the upper chamber and facing upwardly within the upper chamber, and one or more conduits arranged to conduct unsafe water flowing upwardly from the lower chamber over the treatment surface. In the apparatus, a medium-pressure mercury arc discharge lamp is disposed above the treatment surface and is arranged to irradiate unsafe water flowing over the treatment surface. A parabolic reflector disposed above the mercury arc discharge lamp is arranged to reflect ultraviolet radiation downwardly onto unsafe water flowing over the treatment surface. The mercury arch discharge lamp is linear and is disposed along the focus of the parabolic reflector.

Abstract: A positive-powered lens for directing and organizing the light output from a single light to a plurality of optical fibers has an anterior surface, which is convex, and a posterior surface, upon which are disposed light-converging tessellates, which are arranged in an ordered geometrical (e.g. a square, rectangular, circular, or oval) pattern. The tessellates can have a common surface equation or can have different surface equations but equivalent focal lengths. The tessellates are associated with a plurality of optical fibers, each having a proximal face, which is coplanar with the focal planes of the tessellates.

Abstract: A rod lens comprises a sleeve having two opposite ends, two correcting lenses, one at each of the opposite ends of the sleeve, and a light-transmitting fluid contained within an enclosed space defined by the sleeve and by the correcting lenses. The correcting lens at one of the opposite ends of the sleeve is non-convex. The correcting lens at the other end of the sleeve is convex. Depending upon what properties are sought, the non-convex lens may be planar or concave, and the light-transmitting fluid may exhibit optical properties of flint glass or of crown glass. If a liquid, the light-transmitting fluid may be water or a non-aqueous liquid.

Abstract: A low cost image transmission optical system for an inflexible type endoscope comprising two rod-like lenses disposed in a front-to-back symmetrical manner, each rod-like lens consisting of two correcting lenses encapsulating therebetween a fluid; said fluid, for example, may be water or an optical liquid. The said encapsulated fluid image transmission optical system being arranged that the image brightness and its chromaticity, curvature of field and astigmatic residuals are favorably corrected, and that the said arrangement is not susceptible to breakage when a bending load is applied to the shaft of the endoscope.

Abstract: A connector body having a body portion insertable through a hole in a base sheet of material and an enlarged head portion so that the head portion will not pass through the hole. The body portion comprises spaced-apart, inflexible arms that project outwardly from the surface of the base sheet and define a slit therebetween. The sheet to be edgewise connected is received between the spaced-apart arms and a fastener is inserted in the slit, causing the edgewise connected sheet to be forced against one of the two opposing arms while the fastener is forced against the other opposing arm. Access for the fastener can be from the opposite side of the base sheet to which the edge connected sheet is attached through an aperture extending through the head portion and communicating with the slit or, in another embodiment, can be from the same side of the base sheet to which the edgewise connected sheet is attached. The fastener can be a screw, a resilient or rigid wedge, or a chemically expansive compound.

Abstract: The control means (10) are interposed lens-like between the radiant energy source (6) and the area to be irradiated, and comprise a structure (18) of open ended cells (22) that are adapted to transmit the energy while imaging it reflectively on the area to be irradiated in more or less intensified form than the source alone would provide by direct transmission to the area, depending on the location of the source with respect to the structure and the focal point thereof.

Abstract: The control means (10) are interposed lens-like between the radiant energy source (6) and the area to be irradiated, and comprise a structure (18) of open ended cells (22) that are adapted to transmit the energy while imaging it reflectively on the area to be irradiated in more or less intensified form than the source alone would provide by direct transmission to the area, depending on the location of the source with respect to the structure and the focal point thereof.

Abstract: A connector body having a body portion insertable through a hole in a base sheet of material and an enlarged head portion so that the head portion will not pass through the hole. The body portion comprises spaced-apart, inflexible arms that project outwardly from the surface of the base sheet and define a slit therebetween. The sheet to be edgewise connected is received between the spaced-apart arms and a fastener is inserted int the slit, causing the edgewise connected sheet to be forced against one of the two opposing arms while the fastener is forced against the other opposing arm. Access for the fastener can be from the opposite side of the base sheet to which the edge connected sheet is attached through an aperture extending through the head portion and communicating with the slit or, in another embodiment, can be from the same side of the base sheet to which the edgewise connected sheet is attached. The fastener can be a screw, a resilient or rigid wedge, or a chemically expansive compound.