Abstract: A motorized metering valve actuation mechanism having a drive motor with a drive motor spur gear and a metering valve an idler spur gear. In operation, the drive motor turns the drive motor spur gear which turns the idler spur gear to adjust flow through the metering valve. The idle spur gear moves up and down along the face of the drive motor spur gear as the metering valve is opened or closed.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purification system for providing potable water from a municipal water or other source containing undesired impurities. A motor driven pump supplies a feed stream to a reverse osmosis unit resulting in the creation of a product water stream and a concentrate or brine stream. The inclusion of a product water holding tank may be optionally omitted by routing the product water outlet stream directly to the tap via a branched line. A pressure sensor causes a solenoid valve to open when the withdrawal of water from the tap is terminated, opening a valve in the branch line leading back to the pump. The pump then continues to run, recirculating the product water stream to a mixing unit where it is blended with a major part of the concentrate stream that is being recycled and with make-up fresh water to create a composite feed stream.

Abstract: Cartridges for use in ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis separation devices are formed by injection molding a generally tubular, smooth, seamless shell about a spirally-wrapped semipermeable membrane assembly. These cartridges can be used within traditional separation devices having pressure vessels of precise interior diameter, for which the cartridges are uniquely suited because they have cylindrical surfaces of true circular cross-section and close tolerances. The cartridges can also be created so as to incorporate integral pressure vessels and thus permit their use in separation processes without the need for surrounding supporting pressure vessels. A reaction injection molding process is shown which provides for substantial efficiencies in the overall manufacturing of semipermeable membrane separation cartridges of the spirally-wound variety.

Abstract: Hospital patient temperatures and heartbeat rates are monitored by providing each patient with a battery powered transmitter containing a reference resistance and to which two sensor electrodes are connected. The first electrode includes a thermistor and is positioned in thermal contact with the patient's skin over the axillary artery. The second electrode is positioned in contact with the patient's skin proximate to the fourth intercostal left parasternal area of the patient's chest. A receiver, carried by a nurse, includes a magnetic actuator for closing a reed switch in a transmitter unit to activate the generation of data signals from that transmitter. The transmitter, when actuated provides an output of modulated, sequential data signals. The data signals are of a duration corresponding to a reference temperature, actual patient temperature, transmitter battery level, and patient heartbeat rate.