Abstract: Improved method for cleaning a pump, fluid hose, and spray gun is provided by, for example, repeatedly changing the flow rate of the cleaning fluid pumped through the system to generate turbulence or increased turbulence and increased frictional resistance for enhanced cleaning action. A pressure control can cyclically vary the speed of the pump motor and pump connected thereto to generate the turbulence. The pumping cycle can alternate between a first and second power level and at a desired time interval for each speed. With a suitable solvent as the pumped fluid, the turbulence that is generated by the cyclical pumping action causes an increase in the scrubbing action of the solvent to quickly loosen residual material in the fluid passageways.

Abstract: Improved method for cleaning a pump, fluid hose, and spray gun is provided by, for example, repeatedly changing the flow rate of the cleaning fluid pumped through the system to generate turbulence or increased turbulence and increased frictional resistance for enhanced cleaning action. A pressure control can cyclically vary the speed of the pump motor and pump connected thereto to generate the turbulence. The pumping cycle can alternate between a first and second power level and at a desired time interval for each speed. With a suitable solvent as the pumped fluid, the turbulence that is generated by the cyclical pumping action causes an increase in the scrubbing action of the solvent to quickly loosen residual material in the fluid passageways.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test after less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.

Abstract: A sensor system is provided that measures water content or other detectable properties in a medium along the entire length of the sensor at any point in time. The sensor system includes an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmission line disposed in a medium to be monitored. Alternatively, the transmission line can be configured for movement across a medium to be monitored, or the transmission line can be fixed relative to a moving medium being monitored. A signal is transmitted along the transmission line at predetermined frequencies, and the signal is returned back along the transmission line and/or into an optional receive line in proximity to the transmission line. The returned signal is processed to generate a one-dimensional data output profile that is a function of a detectable property of the medium. The data output profile can be mapped onto a physical system to generate a two-dimensional or three-dimensional profile if desired.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes after each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test is less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for accurately determining the position of a tool, for example an earthmoving bucket, mounted at the end of an arm which has a plurality of pivot points and is pivotally attached to the base of a machine, for example a piece of construction equipment like the platform of an excavator or other earthmoving machine. The present apparatus includes a plurality of reflectors mounted on the machine for indicating movement of the arm and the tool. Each reflector is operatively adapted for reflecting light back toward a light source. A light transceiver is mounted on the machine in a known relationship to the reflectors. The light transceiver is operatively adapted for transmitting a beam of light to illuminate each of the reflectors, thereby generating reflective light. The light transceiver detects the reflective light and the angular orientation of the reflective light it detects.

Abstract: A multifunctional material is provided for use in personal care products. The multifunctional material has a permeability between 100 and 10000 Darcys and a capillary tension between about 2 and 15 cm. Structures containing this multifunctional material can have a runoff rate of less than 25 ml per 100 ml insult, over its life. The multifunctional material should have between about 30 and 75 weight percent of a slow rate superabsorbent, between 25 and 70 weight percent of pulp and from a positive amount up to about 10 percent of a binder component. The material preferably has a density between about 0.05 and 0.5 g/cc. The material has a liquid pass through function which desorbs a surge material across time frames consistent with user conditions and releases the liquid for distribution to remote storage locations. The material, when combined with the intake and distribution materials, defines a composite structure for use in personal care products.

Abstract: Flexible multilayer printed circuit boards are disclosed which utilize adhesiveless laminates interconnected in a generally superposed relationship by a conductive adhesive. In one embodiment, the adhesiveless laminates have relatively thin conductive layers and metallized through holes which exhibit high delamination resistance. The metallized through holes preferably have a thickness of at most about 25 microns, yet they are capable of withstanding multilayer assembly processes. High flexibility, reliability, packaging density, and environmental resistance are consequently available in a thin multilayer construction. In a further embodiment, adhesiveless dielectric layers are interposed between adhesiveless laminates to electrically insulate portions thereof. The adhesiveless dielectric layers may define relatively small apertures therein, thus providing greater packaging density for a multilayer printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to cause deflection or oscillation of a bundle of spun thermoplastic filaments. A pulsing electrostatic charge and optionally an additional constant charge is applied to attenuated filaments prior to deposit of the filaments on a conveyor in the form of a web. Adjacent sections of filaments may be charged with different phases, and multiple pulsed charges may be applied. The pulsed charges cause movement or oscillation of the filaments resulting in better web uniformity.

Abstract: Described is a wet-formed composite. The wet-formed composite is formed from a combination of fibers and absorbent material. Specifically, the wet-formed composite is formed from absorbent material and a fiber slurry wherein the absorbent material is swellable in the dispersion medium of the slurry. Also disclosed is a method of forming the wet-formed composite. The method involves forming a fiber slurry, combining an absorbent material with the fiber slurry prior to forming the composite and then forming and drying the composite. The absorbent material is swellable in the dispersion medium of the fiber slurry.

Abstract: A method and system for locating the three dimensional coordinates of a moving or stationary object in real time. The three dimensional coordinates of an object in half space or full space are determined based upon the time of arrival or phase of the wave front measured by a plurality of receiver elements and an established vector magnitudes proportional to the measured time of arrival or phase at each receiver element. The coordinates of the object are calculated by solving a matrix equation or a set of closed form algebraic equations.