Abstract: An insulation portion for an electrochemical cell having a plurality of slots into which bent electrode tabs are slid through during an assembly process of an electrochemical cell. A latch is disposed adjacent the slots and is movable from a resting position to a biased position to engage the electrode tabs. Attachment of the insulation portion to the electrochemical cell and bending of the electrode tabs can be robotically performed, such that controllers of an attachment device and bending device are in communication with each other.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes components that are welded from an external source after the components are assembled in a cell canister. The cell canister houses electrode tabs and a core insert. An end cap insert is disposed opposite the core insert. An external weld source, such as a laser beam, is applied to the end cap insert, such that the end cap insert, the electrode tabs, and the core insert are electrically coupled by a weld which extends from the end cap insert to the core insert.

Abstract: A synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene for expression in a multicellular plant is provided. The gene comprises a desaturase domain and a cyt b5 domain, and is customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm. Methods for designing and making a synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm are also provided.

Abstract: An in-line air purifier (110) for removing contaminants from a compressed air line includes an enclosure (112) having a carrying handle (124), a side wall (116) hinged (118) to a base (114), clasps (120, 122) for releasably closing the side wall (116) onto the base (114), and air inlet (126) and outlet (154, 156) couplers carried on the base (114) for coupling the purifier (110) in a compressed air line. A two stage assembly including replaceable cartridges (40, 42, 90) for removing oil and water, a bed (60) of activated charcoal, and a catalytic bed (76) for carbon monoxide is provided within the base (114) and connected between the inlet (126) and outlet (154, 156) couplers for removing contaminants in compressed air passing therethrough. An air monitor (162) is also provided within the base (114) and connected (157, 158, 160) to the outlet coupler (154, 156) for continuously sampling air passing through the outlet coupler (154, 156).

Abstract: A DNA fragment containing a gene encoding a fatty acid desaturase enzyme is isolated. The gene is then employed by introducing it into other cells to alter or enhance the production of oils in such cells, alternatively the gene or nucleic acid sequences of the gene can be employed to isolate other genes encoding for related, but different desaturase enzymes.

Abstract: An in-line air purifier for removing water, oil and carbon monoxide from a compressed air stream comprises a two-stage assembly in which the first stage includes replaceable cartridges for promoting coalescence of water and oil into droplets and removing such droplets from the air stream. The dried air is then routed to a second stage where it is passed through a replaceable cartridge containing a bed of activated charcoal for removal of odor-causing matter, and then through a further replaceable cartridge containing a bed of catalytic pellets which function at room temperature to remove carbon monoxide. The resulting purified air is routed through a manually adjustable pressure regulator to a purifier outlet.

Abstract: An automatic engine oil dispenser and indicator is provided and consists of a device for sensing low engine oil pressure, a reservoir storing a quantity of oil when the engine oil pressure is at a specified level, a device for indicating a low amount of oil in the reservoir and a check valve communicating with the reservoir. The check valve allows unrestricted flow of the oil from the reservoir to the engine when the engine oil pressure falls below the specified level until the oil pressure in the engine rises back to the specified level stopping the oil flow.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described for detecting gas constituents in an ambient air incorporating a cylindrical tube containing a reaction region, a shutter assembly and a drift region therein, the cylindrical tube fits within a housing having a chamber or space between the cylindrical tube and the housing for heating drift gas prior to entry into the drift region. Further, the cylindrical tube may have interior annular ledges to facilitate positioning of the shutter assembly and an aperture grid. The invention overcomes the problem of controlling the temperature of the drift gas prior to entry into the drift region to enhance the uniformity of ion drift mobility times and the problem of a mechanical assembly which is difficult to dissemble.

Abstract: The definition of a photographic emulsion of the positive acting type that would normally produce a positive image is improved by normally exposing the emulsion to actinic radiation and developing the photographic emulsion, bleaching it, exposing the emulsion again to actinic radiation and redeveloping it to reverse the image that would normally result on the film.

Abstract: Variations in scan rate and in position of a character within a field resulting from positional inaccuracies caused by use of a hand-held scanning device and/or loosely constrained document printing mechanisms and techniques are accommodated by sweeping a two-dimensional sensing array of about one character width and several character heights horizontally along a line across the field and applying a matrix of output signals resulting from each character to a recognition unit. Each set of signals is shifted vertically through the recognition unit at a rate such that all cells of the array are scanned in an interval required for movement of the field on the array of less than one resolution cell. Character recognition is attempted for each one-cell-height increment that the set is vertically shifted. A recognition output signal is produced when a character in the shifted set is brought into registration with a set of inputs leading to the recognition unit.

Abstract: Optically reading and processing alphanumeric data using a hand-held wand by passing a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements horizontally along a line of data to be read. An optical image of the data is focused upon the array to produce digitized outputs which are thresholded to produce a one bit binary code indicating black cells and white cells. A subset of the binary quantities are combined in terms of black segments and white voids to form a plurality of character images while simulating vertical movement of the subset with character recognition attempted upon each simulated increment of vertical movement.