Abstract: A selector valve for use with a hospital vacuum on position in pressure module to supply vacuum or pressure to a utilization means. The selector valve has two or more positions and includes a positive stop at each of its positions through the use of molded plastic parts that interact together to eliminate springs or other components that are tedious to assemble. The entire selector valve is comprised of a minimum of parts and costly lapped surfaces are eliminated by molding a gasket material to one of the components of the valve. The overall multiposition selector valve is thus inexpensive to manufacture by utilizing a minimal number of plastic molded parts and that are easy to assemble.

Abstract: Liquefied gases are transferred by a method and apparatus which uses the energy of the pressurized liquefied gas to drive an air motor which in turn drives a pump for transferring the liquefied gas from one container to another. This method is advantageous over known methods which use fuel or electric powered motor systems for transporting liquefied gases on tank trucks. The apparatus and method of the invention are particularly useful on tank trucks transporting liquid carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A gas-injection lance, burner, and method for use in a high temperature heating system which provides a nonaxisymmetric flow of a reaction-rate enhancing gas in sufficient proximity to the flame of the system, which extends over the surface to be heated, to create an aerodynamically rreduced pressure field sufficient to deform the flame and displace it in the direction of the surface to be heated. The present method provides substantially enhanced heating with the virtual elimination of hot spots.

Abstract: A vacuum regulating cartridge (10) having a roller diaphragm (52), a coil spring (54) and a cantilevered spring arm (68) to form a regulation system for regulating vacuum in a medical regulating vacuum controller (26).

Abstract: A catheter probe for use in the analysis of gases absorbed in liquids, particularly suitable for the in vivo analysis of blood gases, the probe includes an equilibration chamber disposed within the active length of the probe at the distal end of the probe and which is surrounded by a gas permeable membrane. A carrier gas is introduced into the probe and enters the equilibration chamber where the gas sought to be analyzed from the blood equilibrates with the carrier gas and forms a bolus of sample gas. That bolus is then caused to flow out of the probe to an analyzer. The equilibration chamber is formed of an elongated, tortuous path that allows a high surface area to unit volume ratio, that is, the ratio of the area of the equilibration chamber that is immediately beneath the gas permeable chamber to the volume of the flow path though the equilibration chamber is high. Preferable the equilibration chamber is formed as a spiral path.

Abstract: A simple method for forming a metallization for an integrated circuit comprises depositing on a silicon substrate a first layer of refractory metal and nitrogen solid mixture and depositing thereon a second layer of refractory metal. The resulting structure is heated to convert the first layer to refractory metal nitride and the second layer to refractory metal silicide by flow of silicon from the substrate. By appropriate masking of the substrate, formation of silicide in the second layer can be blocked, thus permitting formation of self-aligned metallization by selective etching.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture into component gases wherein a portion of a compressed cooled stream of the gaseous mixture is substantially liquefied and respective portions sent to high and low pressure columns and either one of the gaseous components or a portion of the gaseous mixture is utilized for refrigeration from expansion with a portion of the work utilized for compression of the gaseous mixture.

Abstract: A fumigant composition comprising a pressurized mixture of a diluent gas and phosphine in predetermined proportions within a container adapted for release of gaseous fumigant. A method of preparing the composition comprises the steps of pumping a predetermined quantity of phosphine under pressure into the container and filling the container with a liquified diluent gas. A method of fumigating a substantially closed space by liberating the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a process of depositing a thin film onto a surface of a substrate with the use of a plasma, wherein the plasma optical emission is monitored, analyzed, and the results used to automatically control the nature of the plasma in order to control the characteristics of the deposited thin film. One aspect of the emission that is detected is the intensity of each of two emission lines of different wavelength bands from the same plasma species, the intensities being ratioed and the ratio compared to a predetermined value known to provide a resulting film with uniform and repeatable characteristics. This ratio is also related to the average electron temperature of the plasma, which can be calculated from it. Additionally, the intensity of another emission line from another of the plasma species may be measured and ratioed to one of the foregoing line intensities if additional control is desired.

Abstract: A single-step process is disclosed for hermetically sealing a glass to a metal having similar coefficients of thermal expansion without carrying out the conventional pretreatment steps of decarburization and oxidization by heating to at least the melting point of the glass in an atmosphere containing from about 0.5 to 2.5 volume percent of water vapor, 0 to about 5 volume percent of hydrogen gas and the balance an inert gas, such as nitrogen.

Abstract: Purified air, typically at its dew point, is introduced into distillation column 10 through inlet 2. Oxygen-rich liquid is withdrawn through outlet 6 and is introduced into the top of a mixing column 20. Nitrogen-rich vapor passes from the top of the distillation column 10 to the bottom of the mixing column 20. In the mixing column, there is a downward flow of liquid that becomes progressively richer in nitrogen and an upward flow of vapor that becomes progressively richer in oxygen. Liquid nitrogen is withdrawn from the mixing column 20 through outlet 28 and is returned to the top of distillation column 10 to provide reflux therefor. In addition, a mixed stream comprising oxygen and nitrogen is withdrawn from the column 20 as product or waste. The mixing column 20 is provided with a first condenser 30 at its top and a second condenser 40 which takes a vapor stream from intermediate the outlet 28 and the top of the column 20 and returns condensed liquid to the column 20.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for separating air to form oxygen and nitrogen in at least one cryogenic distillation column is disclosed. Nitrogen vapor taken from the column is warmed in countercurrent flow to incoming air in a heat exchanger wherein compressed air is being cooled for separation. A portion of the warm nitrogen is compressed, cooled in the heat exchanger and passed through an expansion turbine. The expanded nitrogen is passed through a reboiler associated with the column and further cooled in the heat exchange means. Part of the resulting liquid nitrogen is used to provide reflux for the column and the remainder is taken as product. Preferably, at least a portion of the compressed air stream is expanded in a turbine, passed through the reboiler associated with the column to provide reboil therefor, liquified by heat exchange and introduced to the distillation column through a throttling valve.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of nitriles from hydrocarbons by reaction with oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air, preferably the latter, and ammonia in the presence of an ammoxidation catalyst. An alkane, e.g., propane, is converted to an alkene in a catalytic dehydrogenator. The product stream is introduced into an ammoxidation reactor. The product formed therein is recovered in a conventional quench tower. The gaseous effluent from the quench tower is treated in a PSA unit comprising at least two pairs of adsorptive beds. The first bed forms a gas stream containing the unreacted alkane and alkene as well as a minor amount, typically 1-2 percent by volume, of oxygen and a vent stream containing oxygen, nitrogen if present, and hydrogen. The vent stream is introduced into the second adsorptive bed to thereby form an oxygen-containing stream which also contains, nitrogen, if present, and a hydrogen-enriched stream.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of nitriles from hydrocarbons by reaction with an oxygen-containing gas comprising oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air and ammonia in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the process, a selective separator provides recycle of a substantial portion of the unreacted hydrocarbon as well as for a controlled amount of a gaseous flame suppressor in the system. The gaseous flame suppressor comprises a substantially unreactive hydrocarbon containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, carbon dioxide and nitrogen when present in the feed to the ammoxidation reactor. The use of air or oxygen-enriched air in the feed to the ammoxidation reactor is particularly advantageous from an economic view in combination with a pressure swing adsorption unit as the selective separator. The process is characterized by high selectivity to the formation of the product.

Abstract: Respiratory therapy apparatus is provided with setting elements such as knobs for inputting set values for various parameters. A digital display is provided for showing measured values of operational variables. The set point for each parameter is displayed on the display apparatus along with the measured values only when the knob or setting element for the particular parameter is engaged by the operator's hand.

Abstract: A container useful in microwave heating of foods comprises a substrate with a titanium nitride film on at least a portion of the substrate. The substrate is substantially microwave transparent except where coated with the titanium nitride film. The film is adapted to absorb microwave energy. The film thus becomes heated and transfers heat to foods when adjacent the film. This heat transfer provides crisp heating of foods, such as fried chicken, french fries and the like.

Abstract: A vapor source for the vacuum vaporization of a material which forms a positive meniscus with the wall of a crucible. The source comprises an electron-beam gun and a crucible for containing material to be vaporized. The crucible has a wall which makes an angle greater than about 35 degrees with the vertical; greater than 45.degree. is preferred. A molten pool of material to be vaporized has a positive meniscus which contacts the wall at an angle greater than 90.degree.. The positive meniscus enables a region of the wall just above the meniscus to be kept clear of condensed material. The source includes a means for adding molten material to the molten pool to maintain the meniscus in a desired range. If the pool level is sufficiently well controlled the meniscus can be maintained in the region free of condensed material and thus avoid the onset of a "thermal short".

Abstract: Argon and nitrogen are separated from a gaseous stream containing them in combination with oxygen in a three-step process comprising introducing the gaseous stream under pressure to a noncryogenic separator to produce therein a stream enriched in nitrogen and argon, introducing said stream into a cryogenic distillation column to produce a high purity nitrogen product. An argon-rich side stream withdrawn from the cryogenic distillation column is introduced into a pressure swing adsorption unit to provide a crude argon product containing 97 percent or more of argon. The first noncryogenic separator may be a pressure swing adsorption unit or a gas diffusion zone.

Abstract: The improvement in the separation of a gaseous mixtures by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is disclosed. The interparticle voids in conventional PSA adsorbent beds are filled with fine particles. The ratio of the smallest dimension of the coarse adsorbent particles to the largest dimension of the fine particles, the size of the fine particles themselves and the present of volume of the fine particles in the bed are all critical to optimum PSA performance. The fine particles may be comminuted adsorbent or an inert material, i.e. one having no adsorptive capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evacuating an enclosed chamber which utilizes a tandem connection of a booster pump and a mechanical pump in a manner to maximize the rate of evacuation of the chamber but without exceeding the rating of the booster pump and damaging it. A gas bypass around the booster pump is provided with a proportional valve that is operated to start an evacuation of the chamber with the bypass path fully opened but the gradually closing that path in a manner to maintain a differential pressure across the booster pump at a predetermined level, until the bypass path has been fully closed.