Abstract: A tilt mechanism is disclosed for adjusting the angle of rest of an infant contained within an infant incubator. The tilt mechanism comprises at least one bent rod that underlies the bed on which the infant is positioned. By rotating the bent rod, an offset shaped portion of the rod elevates one end of the infant bed. The rotation is effected by a handle located outside the incubator and which has a plurality of positions, each of which position is locked in place by a spring biased plunger that enters certain grooves formed in the interior surface of the handle. A push button pushes against the spring bias to move the plunger out of engagement with the grooves in the handle so that the handle can be rotated to another selected position.

Abstract: Argon and nitrogen are produced in a basic two step process. In a first step, oxygen is removed from a compressed air feed using low temperature PSA (pressure swing adsorption). In the second step, argon and nitrogen mixture is separated by cryogenic distillation. The process yields crude liquid argon and very high purity gaseous nitrogen.

Abstract: A bottle (12), which has a single circular opening (12f) at the top (12e), contains a liquid (32) in a bottom chamber (12h) and a powder (26) in an upper chamber (12d). A rubber stopper (14) exists in a neck chamber (12g) between the upper (12d) and lower (12h) chambers and isolates the liquid (32) from the powder (26). The neck chamber (12g) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the lower chamber (12h). A cylindrical basket (16) with openings in the side walls (16a) sits on top of the rubber stopper (14). A cylindrical rubber dispenser plunger (18) having a sealing portion (18a) sits above the basket (16). A locking cap (22) sits on top of the dispenser plunger (18). A septum cap (24) having vent holes (24c) sits on top of the locking cap (22 ). A sealing disc (26) sits on top of the septum cap (24). A cup-like top cap (28) covers the top of the bottle (12). Shrink wrap (32) adheres to the top cap (28) and part of the outside of the bottle (12).

Abstract: An electron-beam heated vapor source for operation in vacuum is disclosed. The source comprises a magnet and a pair of parallel pole plates for deflecting the beam from an electron-beam gun through an angle of approximately 270.degree. into a crucible containing material to be vaporized by evaporation, sublimation or other process. A pole rod extends from each of the pole plates into the space between them. A means is provided for precisely adjusting the distance separating the pole rods while the vapor source is in vacuum. This adjustment enables the impact area of the beam, and thus, the deposition rate or other impact area related parameter to be optimized while the vapor source is in operation. Preferably, each pole rod extends through a clearance hole in the pole plate and the adjustment means comprises a rack integral with the rod and a pinion which can be driven by a control means located outside the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An inflatable cuff is disclosed for encircling a patient's finger and which includes a light source and a light detector constructed in a way to detect the movement, or lack of movement, of arterial passages within the finger. The cuff is comprised of an inflatable bladder that contacts the patient finger; having a tubing provided for inflation and deflation of the bladder. Surrounding the external surface of the bladder from the finger is a metalized backing that covers and shields the inflatable bladder. A flexible circuit is affixed to the metalized backing and to which is attached the light source and light detector and which further includes wiring from the light detector and light source to a connector at its distal end for connection to further circuiting. Further, surrounding the flexible circuit is a electrical and light shielding and label that covers the flexible circuit and which provides shielding as well as a means of affixing the inflatable cuff to the patients finger.

Abstract: A Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) system uses a constant cycle time and a control system to essentially automatically and continuously modify air input flow in order to insure that the produced nitrogen contains only a preselected range of an impurity which consists essentially of oxygen and to keep the output flow of nitrogen relatively high.

Abstract: A method and means is disclosed for carrying out the calibration of a gas monitor. The calibration is effected by providing a calibration gas containing a precise amount of the constituent that is measured by the gas monitor. That calibration gas is introduced into the gas monitor and passes therethrough in a closed system such that leakage of calibration gas to the surrounding environment at the inlet to the gas monitor and from the outlet of the monitor is prevented. The calibration gas is further stalled in the gas sensor chamber of the gas monitor for the operator to make necessary adjustments to the gas monitor at no flow conditions of the calibration gas.

Abstract: A constant current source for maintaining an essentially constant current flow through an r. f. glow discharge reaction occurring in a reactor uses a balancing capacitor, a center tap current transformer, a bridge circuit having two identical circuit legs, a differential amplifier, an error signal generating circuit, an operational amplifier, and voltage and current generator circuitry consisting of an oscillator, two transformers, MOS driver transistors and a filter circuit. Currents in the primary winding of the transformer caused by parasitic capacitance of the reactor and by the balancing capacitor effectively cancel each other out. This results in a voltage signal generated by the bridge circuit, which is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer, that is proportional only to current flowing through the r. f. glow discharge reaction. This voltage signal is compared by the error signal generating circuit with a reference voltage which is proportional to a desired current level through the r. f.

Abstract: There is disclosed a one-step process for purifying an inert gas achieved by contacting the inert gas including minute quantities of an impurity selected from the group consisting of CO, CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, H.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and mixtures thereof with a particulate material comprised of nickel in an amount of at least about 5% by weight as elemental nickel distributed over an effective area of surface, typically from about 100 to 200 m.sup.2 /g, thereby forming an inert gas having less than 1 ppm and preferably less than 0.1 ppm of any such impurity.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is produced in a reaction between carbon monoxide, oxygen, and water in the substantial absence of gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a solvent using a soluble palladium compound as a catalyst and employing an arsine or phosphine ligand.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a flexible microcircuit of a size usable in vivo in the arterial or venous tract of a human. The method comprises forming, by various photoresist techniques, conductive runs on a polyimide base of about 1-2 mils thickness. Each end of a flexible microcircuit has minute holes formed therein for connection to an electronic chip and to hard wiring. The method produces holes in the conductive runs for the electronic chip connection of about 0.002 inches in diameter and holes about 0.016 inches in diameter at the end for wiring.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of a sample of blood gases along a capillaric streamway from a probe towards an analyzing apparatus includes a body 12 having an inlet 36 for control fluid and a reciprocable valve head 20 movable from a first position in which inlet 36 is isolated from a second inlet 30 for carrier gas and blood gases towards a second position in which inlets 36, 30 are in communication. The arrangement is such, that in the first position of the valve head 20 the carrier gas and blood gases can flow from inlet 30 towards an outlet 32. However, in the second position the pressure of the control fluid prevents the flow of the carrier gas and blood gases through the inlet 30.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for bonding a minute semiconductor device to the freestanding end of a flexible microcircuit. The method generally comprises a series of steps including initially bonding the semiconductor device to a substrate for handling during the further progression of steps. An extremely minute conductive ball is bonded to one or more conductive surfaces of the semiconductor device and an upwardly depending pigtail is formed atop each of the conductive balls. The flexible microcircuit, having holes in predetermined locations and in numbers corresponding to the upwardly depending pigtails, is positioned atop those pigtails such that a portion of each pigtail protrudes through the flexible microcircuit. Another minute conductive ball is thereafter applied to each of those portions of pigtails protruding through the flexible microcircuit, thus sandwiching the microcircuit between the conductive balls.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for gas enrichment utilizing pressure swing adsorption techniques wherein the compressed gaseous mixture being processed is passed in indirect heat transfer relationship to a bed of adsorption material in an adsorption vessel undergoing regeneration wherein the heat of compression is employed to improve regeneration of the bed of adsorption material during the desorption step prior to passing the compressed gaseous mixture through a cooling system and thence through a bed of adsorption material for gas enrichment at a lower, more efficacious adsorption temperature.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for passing the uncondensed and/or vaporized gaseous stream generated from a cryogenic liquid in heat transfer relationship with a compressed gaseous stream thereof thereby to heat the uncondensed and/or vaporized gaseous stream prior to compression thereof to form a portion of said compressed gaseous stream.

Abstract: A method of automatically mixing predetermined quantities of liquid organic compound and liquid propellant is disclosed. A metering cylinder is filled from a storage reservoir of a liquid organic compound and then disconnected from the reservoir. Then one end of the metering cylinder is connected to a source of liquid propellant, the other end is connected to a mixing vessel, and vapour pressure of the liquid propellant is utilized to force all of the liquid organic compound into the mixing vessel, together with a predetermined volume of liquid propellant.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for argon recovery from an ammonia synthesis plant purge gas comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, ammonia, and methane. In one embodiment of the present invention, this purge gas is subjected to the following steps:(i) Separation of ammonia at high pressure by adsorption using zeolite molecular sieve material, which is subsequently regenerated by hot purge combined with pressure reduction;(ii) Separation of methane and most of the nitrogen by pressure swing adsorption using a molecular sieve or an activated carbon material having greater selectivity for methane than argon;(iii) Separation of hydrogen for recycle to the ammonia synthesis plant using a high pressure cryogenic distillation column of a membrane separator; and(iv) Separation of the nitrogen by cryogenic distillation means to obtain essentially pure liquid argon product.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for argon recovery from an ammonia synthesis plant purge gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, methane, and ammonia. This purge gas is conventionally subjected to ammonia absorption and a first membrane separation of hydrogen for recycle to the ammonia plant. The hydrogen depleted non-permeate gas stream from the first membrane separator, comprising the aforesaid four components, and any residual moisture from the ammonia absorption, is subjected, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, to the following steps: (i) Separation of methane and residual moisture and most of the nitrogen in the gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption system using molecular sieve or activated carbon material. (ii) Separation of most of the hydrogen in a second membrane separator. The separated hydrogen may be used as purge gas for regeneration of the pressure swing adsorption systems of step (i).

Abstract: A method for depositing a coating of a dense ceramic material is disclosed. The coating may be an oxide or other refractory ceramic material. A ceramic starting material is melted and refined by heating with an electron beam in vacuum. The refined material is evaporated and deposited on a heated substrate to form a dense ceramic coating. In particular, a durable ceramic thermal barrier coating on a superalloy turbine part may be formed by coating the part with a metal layer which is oxidized to form alumina and depositing a dense ceramic layer followed by an overcoating of a columnar ceramic material.

Abstract: An evacuable wafer processing machine includes a load-lock station, a wafer transfer station separated from the load-lock station by means of a gate-valve and a wafer coating station. Wafers contained within an evacuated wafer box are loaded into the load-lock station. The load-lock station is then closed and evacuated. A pair of pneumatically-operated plungers operable within the load-lock station, pick-up and remove the covers from the wafer box. The gate-valve is opened and the box of wafers is transferred into the wafer transfer station. Within the wafer transfer station, a wafer transfer blade passes vertically through the wafer box to serially transfer the wafers between the transfer station and the wafer coating station. After all the wafers have been coated, the wafer box is transferred through the open gate-valve into the load-lock station, the gate-valve closed and the covers replaced on the wafer box.