Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for tuning or altering the charge potential limiting effect that a scorotron grid has upon an adjacent charge receiving surface. The scorotron charging apparatus utilizes corona producing means, spaced above the charge retentive surface, for emitting corona ions in response to a high voltage potential applied thereto, and a flexible grid, suspended between said corona producing means and the charge retentive surface in a nonplanar fashion, such that the spacing between said grid and the charge retentive surface is variable along at least one region of said grid.

Abstract: An apparatus for etching optical servo tracks on a magnetic storage disk comprises optics for generating a beam of light for etching the servo tracks and a spindle for rotating the disk in proximity to the optics. The device further comprises a center pin at the center of rotation of the spindle and an alignment pin which is off-center of the spindle. A disk to be etched is placed on the spindle with the center pin through a center hole in the disk hub. A pressurized gas nozzle directs bursts of pressurized gas toward the edge of the disk to rotate the disk until an alignment hole in the disk hub engages the alignment pin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for power demand load leveling of a power supply driving a plurality of LED's through the use of pulse width modulation. A first modulating signal provided from a pulse width modulator is applied to a delay means for generating second, third and fourth modulating signals each delayed from the previous modulating signal by a predetermined time. The modulating signals are used to modulate control signals corresponding to four groups of associated LED's in order to permit only one group of LED's to be turned on at any one time, although more than twenty five percent of the LED's may be active at any one time. Each of the first, second, third and fourth modulating signals are applied to a different group of four groups of activation switches along with their respective control signals to enable the switches and activate an associated group of LED's.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for an improved device for covering an aperture disposed on a horizontal surface. The cover has sidewalls, a top surface, and a lip which defines a cover opening within a sidewall. The improvement comprises a first and a second guide rail extending from the cover and disposed on opposed first and second sides of the cover opening. A slot is defined in the cover and disposed along a third side of the cover opening. A frame defines a screened window and includes fastener projections which extend outwardly from the frame. The frame is inserted within the slot with a first and a second side of the frame being guided by the first and second opposed guide rails. The fastener projections engage the lip of the cover opening for retaining the frame and the screened window within the cover opening.

Abstract: The present invention is a charging apparatus capable of electrically tuning or altering, on a relatively local scale, the corona ion current passing between a corona producing device and a charge retentive surface. The charging apparatus, which may be either a corotron or a scorotron, is specifically adapted to apply a uniform charge to a charge retentive surface which characteristically exhibits non-uniform charging behavior. More specifically, the charging apparatus comprises corona producing devices, spaced apart from the charge retentive surface, for emitting a corona ion current, and device, responsive to a bias voltage, for locally altering the corona ion current passing between said corona producing device and the charge retentive surface.

Abstract: A beam of light used to etch servo tracks on a magnetic disk is steered with an acousto-optical device to maintain the beam in concentrical patterns while mechanically moving the optics which generate the beam of light continuously radially of the disk.

Abstract: The intensity of a beam of light used to etch concentric servo tracks on a magnetic medium is adjusted with an acousto-optical device to maintain a substantially constant energy density delivered by the beam while the optics which generate the beam move radially of the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the holding reservoir to transfer liquid waste to a waste jug. A vacuum wand provides rinsing liquid from a rinse liquid jug via a rinse liquid pump and provides suction via the vacuum blower. Liquid levels in each of the rinse liquid jug, the waste jug, and the holding reservoir, are monitored by liquid level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system has a signal means which provides a signal representative of a temperature responsive luminescence, where the luminescence has a characteristic time-rate-of-decay. A means for comparison is connected to the signal means and samples the signal during two time intervals, the first interval overlapping the second. The averages of the samples are compared to provide a difference signal representative of the difference between the two measured averages. Control means coupled to the comparison means provide an output representing the temperature as a function of the time-rate-of-decay, by adjusting the overlapping intervals so that the difference signal converges to a preselected limit.

Abstract: A multi-modal patient support system is provided having the capability of switching from any one of at least three modes of operation, particularly a first constant pressure mode, a second pulsation, and a third turning mode. A plurality of like inflatable sacs are provided supported upon a rigid support member. The inflatable sacs comprise at least two internal chambers. In the first static mode, the inflatable sacs are maintained at a relatively constant predetermined pressure. In the second pulsation mode, at least two sets of inflatable sacs are inflated and deflated in at least two separate and opposite patterns of pressurization so as to provide alternating pressure point relief to a patient resting upon the sacs. In the third turning mode, generally opposite disposed portions of the inflatable sacs are alternately inflated and deflated so that a patient resting upon the sacs can be automatically tilted from side to side.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for use with lightweight security doors includes a first gear and a mechanically associated second gear. A lock disposed proximate the second gear is adapted to form a releasable locking engagement with the second gear. The first gear is mechanically associated with a locking assembly which intercooperates with the door frame of the security door to produce a locking engagement therewith. The locking assembly is actuated by the rotation of the first gear. A rotation of the first gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second gear and vice versa. The second gear is mounted to be manually displaceable whereby the second gear can be displaced out of engagement with the lock and thereby become rotatable notwithstanding that the lock has been set in its locked condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved leavening system which comprises at least one leavening acid and at least one novel chemical leavening base. The new chemical leavening bases comprise a baking bicarbonate, preferably an alkali metal bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, or a mixture thereof, which has been intimately admixed with a food grade, essentially water insoluble salt or oxide, such that the baking carbonate acts as a carrier for the insoluble salt or oxide which is essentially uniformly distributed throughout and in the surface of the bicarbonate. The leavening system can be used in any type of baked goods which is leavened by a leavening system which includes a gas generating base such as a baking carbonate and a neutralizing acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved leavening system which comprises at least one leavening acid and at least one novel chemical leavening base. The new chemical leavening bases comprise a baking bicarbonate, preferably an alkali metal bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, or a mixture thereof, which has been intimately admixed with a food grade, essentially water insoluble salt or oxide, such that the baking carbonate acts as a carrier for the insoluble salt or oxide which is essentially uniformly distributed throughout and in the surface of the bicarbonate. The leavening system can be used in any type of baked goods which is leavened by a leavening system which includes a gas generating base such as a baking carbonate and a neutralizing acid.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system has a signal means which provides a signal representative of a temperature responsive luminescence, where the luminescence has a characteristic time-rate-of-decay. A means for comparison is connected to the signal means and samples the signal during two time intervals, the first interval overlapping the second. The averages of the samples are compared to provide a difference signal representative of the difference between the two measured averages. Control means coupled to the comparison means provide an output representing the temperature as a function of the time-rate-of-decay, by adjusting the overlapping intervals so that the difference signal converges to a preselected limit.

Abstract: The invention is a helicopter blade crack detection system for blades that are hollow and pressurized or evacuated to a low pressure A rotating assembly having a rotating indicator assembly photo-optically communicates to an airframe detection assembly providing high reliability, ease of maintenance, and EMI secured.

Abstract: The new hybridoma cell lines RF-HBs-1, RF-HBs-2 and RF-HBs-4 each secrete a nonoclonal antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. The production of the antibodies may be carried out in vitro by culturing one of the cell lines or in vivo by establishing one of the cell lines as an ascites tumour in a mouse and isolating antibodies from the ascites fluid or from the serum. The antibodies have therapeutic, preventative and diagnostic uses in respect of hepatitis B virus infections and can be used to purify hepatitis B surface antigen. The relative specificities of the three monoclonal antibodies make them particularly useful in radiometric assay techniques employing specific combinations of the antibodies in solid phase.

Abstract: A cementitious composite of delignified cellulosic debris and Portland cement is produced from waste sludge from a paper recycling process and combining the resultant material in particle sizes ranging from 0.06 to 25 mm with Portland cement.

Abstract: A method for controlling the blower that supplies gas to the gas sacks of a patient support system uses a blower control circuit, a microprocessor, and a pressure sensor. The blower control circuit controls the power that is supplied to operate the blower. The microprocessor activates the blower control circuit with a control signal that causes the control circuit to supply power to the blower. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of the gas exiting the blower and supplies a signal indicative of this pressure, to the microprocessor. The microprocessor stores the measured pressure signal and calculates a reference pressure for the blower. The microprocessor compares the reference pressure to the measured pressure and determines any discrepancy resulting from this comparison. The microprocessor sends a signal to the blower control circuit, wherein the signal is indicative of the discrepancy from the compared pressure and the reference pressure of the blower.

Abstract: A dual axis translation mechanism for holding and moving an object of variable dimension to a position defined by first and second axis. The mechanism includes a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement with respect to the frame in the first axis, and an object holding means coupled with the carriage for holding and moving the object with respect to the carriage in the second axis. A motor selectively drives a first shaft and a drive/brake assembly provides a second shaft which, in a drive mode of the assembly is driven synchronously with the first shaft and, which in a brake mode of the assembly is held non-driven while the first shaft is being driven. First and second endless belts are mounted for rotating movement within the frame and extend in a direction parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: The magnetized punch of the tool breaks off the tang and holds the tang until the punch is withdrawn into an opening in a vacuum conduit. The tang is thereby removed from the punch and it becomes entrained in a vacuum flow, detected and accounted for before passing into a collection chamber.