Abstract: An electrode arrangement for creation of corona over an area, and for treating electrically-conductive surfaces which might otherwise experience arcing from the electrode arrangement to the surface. The arrangement includes an electrode, and an electrically insulative shroud for the electrode. A source of nitrogen gas is provided for creating a non-arcing atmosphere. The electrode is stationary or rotatable with the shroud.

Abstract: An electrode for creation of a corona over an area. The electrode includes a corona driving portion and a corona emitting portion in electrical contact with the corona driving portion. The corona driving portion is much larger in size than the corona emitting portion such that corona from the electrode is emitted from the corona emitting portion in a direction away from the corona driving portion. The corona emitting portion includes a spiral wound wire extending from an edge of the corona driving portion to an inner terminus, the wire being spaced from the driving portion at an increasingly greater distance from the outer edge of the corona driving portion to the inner terminus.

Abstract: A device for properly positioning upstanding vials that are exiting from or entering on to a conveyor. A guide wheel, having a plurality of identations for the vials, is driven by a coaxial propulsion wheel located beneath the guide wheel. A stationary guide adjacent to the guide wheel is spaced sufficiently to permit the vials to pass one at a time between the stationary guide and the guide wheel. The wheels are mounted via an arm at an angle to the conveyor so that one edge of the propulsion wheel rests on and is driven by the conveyor. Therefore, the rotational speed of the guide wheel matches the surface speed of the conveyor so that the vials are properly released onto the conveyor or captured from the conveyor without being upset.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for creation of a corona over an area. The arrangement includes a corona driving portion and a corona emitting portion in electrical contact with the corona driving portion. The corona driving portion is much larger in size than the corona emitting portion such that corona from the electrode arrangement is emitted from the corona emitting portion in a direction away from the corona driving portion. The corona emitting portion is comprised of a series of stepped, generally concentric, spaced corona emitting rings about a center emitting element. The locations of the rings and emitting element are such that a corona is produced over a circular area rather than an annular ring.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for creation of a corona. The arrangement includes a corona driving portion and a corona emitting portion in electrical contact with the corona driving portion. The corona driving portion is much larger in size than the corona emitting portion such that corona from the electrode arrangement is emitted essentially from the corona emitting element in a direction away from the corona driving element. In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the corona driving element comprises a rod with a chain-like corona emitting element suspended adjacent to the rod. In another embodiment of the invention, the corona driving element comprises a flat disc and the corona emitting element comprises a tapered ring at the outer circumference of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous corona treatment of materials, such as wire. An electrode is helically wound about a tubular glass dielectric, and the electrode is attached to a source of high voltage, high frequency power. In order to facilitate rapid passage of the treated material through the glass tube, blocks with internal pulleys are mounted at either end of the tube.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for testing the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vial. For testing the vacuum, a vial is located at a source of high voltage radio frequency power and the power is applied to the vial. A momentary intense flash of light is applied to the vial to cause ionization of the gas within the vial and the ionization current of the ionized gas within the vial is then sensed and a representation of the value of the ionization current is generated. The representation of the ionized current is compared with a minimum acceptable current value which is indicative of a predetermined minimum allowable vacuum within the vial. The vial is rejected if the measured ionization current is less than the minimum acceptable current value. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a single station for testing evacuated vials, one at a time. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a plurality of vials are conveyed in a carousel through a series of testing stations.