Abstract: An integrated capacitor having an oxide layer of less than 500 .ANG. as a dielectric or insulator. A method of fabricating a capacitor including the steps of forming an oxide layer on a substrate, forming through the oxide layer a first capacitor plate in the substrate, and forming a second capacitor plate on the oxide layer. The method also includes the step of restructuring the oxide layer after the step of forming the first capacitor plate. Since the first capacitor plate is formed through the oxide layer the oxide layer can be grown on an undoped or lightly doped substrate; thus, the effects of the doping level on the growth rate of the oxide layer are eliminated and oxide layers having a uniform thickness of less than 500 .ANG. can consistently be provided.

Abstract: An oral hygiene device includes a supply of liquid, a pump for propelling the to a point of use. A housing defines a cavity within which the pump is seated and which also includes an inlet and an outlet. The pump is of a kind having a hollow body with a chamber defined in a first portion, a piston disposed for reciprocation in that chamber and a motor to drive the piston and thereby the pump. A second portion of the body is coupled to an outlet. A third portion of the body is coupled to an inlet. A first check valve is at least effectively disposed in a third portion of the body and poled to pass liquid only from the inlet to the chamber. A second check valve is at least effectively disposed in the second portion of the body and is poled to pass liquid only from the chamber to the outlet.

Abstract: A turbocharged, compounded cycle ducted fan engine system includes a conventional internal combustion engine drivingly connected to a fan enclosed in a duct. The fan provides propulsive thrust by accelerating air through the duct and out an exhaust nozzle. A turbocharger is disposed in the duct and out an exhaust nozzle. A turbocharger is disposed in the duct and receives a portion of the air compressed by the fan. The turbocharger compressor further pressurizes the air and directs it to the internal combustion engine where it is burned and exits as exhaust gas to drive the turbine. A power turbine also driven by exhaust gas is also drivingly connected through the engine to the fan to provide additional power. The size and weight of the turbocharger are reduced since the compressor's work is partially achieved by the compression effect of the fan. The total propulsive thrust includes the fan generated thrust which bypasses the turbocharger and the thrust of exhaust gases exiting the turbine.

Abstract: A self-lubricating die cylinder assembly is provided containing a cylinder, piston, expansion reservoir and working chamber. A lubricating oil recirculation means is provided to transport oil between the working chamber and the expansion reservoir during each of the piston strokes. A flow restrictor is provided to create a pressure differential between the two chambers during movement of the piston thus creating a jet mixture of compressible working fluid and lubricating oil spraying onto the walls of the cylinder.

Abstract: Water heating methods and apparatus feed a combustible mixture of gas and air to an axial inlet of a cylindrical radiant surface burner and conduct water to be heated through a heat exchanger encompassing that cylindrical radiant surface burner as a cylindrical structure having first passages for combustion gases therethrough substantially radially of the cylindrical radiant surface burner and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Multilayer rigid flex printed circuits are fabricated by a novel process to provide structures having rigid sections incorporating insulator materials which, when subjected to elevated temperatures, do not expand sufficiently in the Z direction to cause difficulties, including delamination and cracking of plated through barrels. The flex section includes flexible insulator materials which extend to but not a substantial distance into the rigid section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a precision current source wherein a reference current level is established by the inter-dependent operation of three current stages. The first stage provides first and second current paths and functions to mirror the current level through the first and second current paths. A second stage, coupled to the first and second current paths, defines a first current/voltage relationship at respective points in the first and second current paths. A third stage, also coupled to the first and second current paths, defines a second current/voltage relationship again at the respective points in the first and second current paths. In accordance with the present invention, the first and second current/voltage relationships are chosen to be mutually solvable for a discrete, non-zero pairing of voltage and current levels, thereby establishing a reference current level at the defined current set point.

Abstract: A two speed gear box employs a planetary gear mechanism in which the planet carrier is in the form of a pinion gear which drives the second stage of the gear box. The gear box includes hydraulically actuated clutches which, in high gear, selectively lock the sun gear for rotation with the input shaft, and, in low gear, selectively lock the sun gear with respect to the housing so that the carrier pinion is driven at the speed with which the axes of the planet gears rotate about the sun gear. The annular gear includes an outwardly extending gear rack adapted to engage a generator driving mechanism. Pressurized fluid lubricant is provided to the generator housing and to the interior of the gear box housing. Expelled generator lubricant, still at relatively high pressure, powers an ejector to positively scavenge the fluid out of the gear box and return it to a cooling reservoir obviating the need for a separate scavenging pump.

Abstract: A turbine engine, having a cooling passage diverting a part of the airflow from the turbine compressor for impingement upon the turbine blades, includes a concentric pair of apertured rings disposed in the passage for variably obstructing flow through the cooling passage between zero and a maximal value. One of the rings is fixed to the turbine housing, while the other of the rings is rotatable with respect to the first ring and the housing. The mobile ring can be rotated by a pressurized cylinder and piston assembly, or by a biasing device causing abutment of a stop on the second ring against an abutment surface on a cam. The cylinder and piston are actuated, or the cam is rotated, in dependence upon an engine operating characteristic such as engine speed, pressure, temperature, flight condition or other determinable parameter.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil, such as a turbine blade or nozzle vane, is disclosed for use in a high temperature environment. The airfoil comprises a center post and at least one side piece. The side piece is attached to the center post so that, at room temperature, a clearance between the center post and the side piece permits limited relative movement between the post and side piece. This clearance space, however, is dimensioned so that at the operating temperature of the turbine, thermal expansion of the center post and/or side piece substantially eliminates the clearance as well as the limited movement between the center post and side piece.

Abstract: A controller is associated with a cabinet which contains apparatus and components for performing operations or conducting processes. Associated with the cabinet is a housing within which is contained an air filtration material. Air is admitted and propelled for flow through that material and delivery into the confined space defined by the cabinet by a blower unit. The blower unit is controlled in response to the rate of flow of air through the housing in order to maintain a selected rate of flow in compensation for changes in impedence to flow of air through the material. Operation also is controlled in response to other parameters, such as pressure differential across the material, pressure differential across a prefilter upstream, a measure of the rate of air flow into the cabinet, ambient temperature within the cabinet, pressure differential between outside atmospheric pressure and each of the housing and the cabinet and relative humidity within the cabinet.

Abstract: An improved muffler system for internal combustion engines recovers heat energy of exhaust gases by spraying a fluid into the exhaust stream in order to absorb the heat energy of the exhaust gases. The heated fluid is collected at the bottom of the muffler vessel and the stored heat energy is transferred to a second fluid via a counter-current liquid to liquid heat exchanger. The heat energy from the second fluid is then removed and utilized, for example, to condition passenger spaces.

Abstract: A process for surface hardening a ferrous article such as an aircraft engine rocker lever shaft includes the steps of creating a nitrocarburized oxide layer atop the ferrous core, and subsequently creating a nitrogen enriched case between the oxide layer and the ferrous core. The article is exposed at a first elevated temperature to a mixture of an inert carrier gas, ammonia, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, and thereafter exposed to the carrier gas and ammonia at a second elevated temperature higher than the first temperature. The article formed by the process has a ferrous core covered by a case of nitrogen enriched, institially hardened steel over the core, and a complex nitrocarburized oxide layer atop the case. The complex nitrocarburized oxide layer includes a lower portion comparable to a conventional epsilon nitride or white layer, and an upper porous oxide zone. The upper porous oxide zone is preferably infused with an extreme pressure oil or a liquid polytetrafluoride material.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas analyzer is disclosed which includes sensing, compensation and counter electrodes in an electrolyte. The compensation electrode provides a compensation signal related to the concentration of gas dissolved in the bulk of the electrolyte. This compensation signal is subtracted from the analyzer output signal to eliminate errors caused by bulk electrolyte dissolved gas.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed speaker enclosure assembled from pieces that can be shipped economically in compact knocked-down condition. The mating surfaces at the edges and margins of the assembled pieces are hermetically sealed by gaskets clamped therebetween. Some of the gaskets can be in the form of bands of compressible elastic material stretched around the peripheral edges of certain pieces or panels and seated in connecting grooves in the peripheral edges. Other of the gaskets are in the form of individual lengths of compressible material seated in certain of the borders or marginal edges. Appropriate fasteners are used to secure the pieces together in hermetically sealed relationship. Assembly of the speaker enclosure can be economically made at the place of installation of the speaker components.

Abstract: A non dispersive optical gas analyzer is disclosed which uses thermopiles as optical detectors. The thermopiles are formed of an array of interconnected thin films of dissimilar metals deposited on a heat conductive substrate to form a multitude of thermocouples. The array is configured in such a manner that a number of the thermocouples are employed to compensate each thermopile output signal for changes in ambient temperature.

Abstract: A fuel pumping and transfer system for a multiple concentric shaft gas turbine engine which has the capability to handle contaminated or slurry fuels. The fuel is introduced into the innermost shaft at any desired low pressure thereby eliminating the need for a high pressure fuel pump. Fuel is introduced through a rotating fuel tube disposed within the inner shaft of the engine. The centrifugal force caused by rotation of the shafts causes the fuel to be collected against the inner wall of the shaft creating a centrifugal pressure dam. As the fuel passes from one collection region to the next the differential pressure between the inner shaft region and the combustor increases sufficiently to provide proper combustion.

Abstract: A water filter has an elongated base with an inlet opening near one end thereof to which is secured an adaptor ring for attachment to a water faucet. A first outlet opening on the base dispenses unfiltered water and there is a channel defined within the base that leads toward the other end, with an externally-operable valve being included for selecting between unfiltered flow to that outlet and flow down the channel. Located near the other end of the base is a mounting on which sits a water filter cartridge that communicates with the channel, and the cartridge delivers filtered water to a second outlet. A number of features include a color indicator to exhibit degree of cartridge usage, a reversible adaptor ring to accommodate different faucets and there are different aerator structures. Of particular note is the replaceable cartridge which includes a deflector for obtaining better usage of the main filtering material, an exteriorally-mounted first filter and an internally-mounted second filter.

Abstract: The reference circuit includes a current mirror for providing first and second current paths for the conduction of respective first and second currents. The current mirror imposes a current level relationship between the first and second currents. A load, preferably resistive, is provided in the first current path for predominantly establishing a predetermined level of the first current. A transistor having a temperature coefficient of a predetermined polarity and a resistor having a temperature coefficient of a complimentary polarity are provided in the second current path for providing temperature compensation. Finally, a load compensation stage is provided in the first and second current paths to provide a thermal compensation feedback path from the transistor and resistor compensation elements to permit stabilization of the first current level with respect to temperature.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for varying the inflation pressure in the tires of a vehicle in order to obtain an operator selected tire deflection. The system includes a source of pressure which is fluidly connected through an inflation valve to the tires which, upon actuation, increases the tire pressure. Conversely, a deflation valve is also connected to the tire and, upon actuation, exhausts fluid from the tires thus decreasing the tire pressure. A pressure sensor detects the pressure representative of the pressure within the tires and a further sensor detects the vehicle load while a switch arrangement allows the operator to select between at least two different tire deflection levels. An electronic control unit receives input signals from the pressure and further sensors as well as from the switch arrangement and selectively actuates the inflation or deflation valves until a tire pressure corresponding to the desired tire deflection is obtained.