Abstract: A method of producing nanocrystalline ceramic powder by creating a plasma stream in a reactor vessel, and physically converting a ceramic precursor material into ceramic particles suspended in the vessel, using the plasma stream. A metallic reactant may additionally be introduced into the vessel using the plasma stream, wherein the metallic reactant forms ceramic particles having the same composition as the ceramic particles of the physical converting step. The plasma stream is created using an electrothermal gun. The gun may use a ceramic barrel which is eroded by the plasma stream. Alternatively (or additionally), the ceramic precursor material may be injected as particulates into the plasma stream, wherein the ceramic precursor particulates are micron-sized or larger. A novel electrothermal gun design may optionally use a replaceable insert constructed of the ceramic precursor material.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanosized powders utilizes a hybrid exploding wire device containing a solid metal wire fuse in the bore of a tube that is open at each end. The ends of the fuse are connected to electrodes on the ends of the tube. The electrodes are designed to erode to maintain a heavy metal plasma. The bore may comprise a corresponding ceramic to be produced, and a microcrystalline powder of a corresponding ceramic may be retained within the bore. An electrical discharge vaporizes and ionizes the fuse. The tube confines the radial expansion of the plasma such that the plasma exits from both ends of the tube where it reacts with a suitable gas to form nanoscale particles. In addition, the plasma gas ablates and vaporizes a portion of the bore wall to contribute to the nanoceramic synthesis. Other alternatives include replacing the fuse with a thin conductive sheath or a consumable metal insert.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanosized powders utilizes a hybrid exploding wire device containing a solid metal wire fuse in the bore of a tube that is open at each end. The ends of the fuse are connected to electrodes on the ends of the tube. The electrodes are designed to erode to maintain a heavy metal plasma. The bore may comprise a corresponding ceramic to be produced, and a microcrystalline powder of a corresponding ceramic may be retained within the bore. An electrical discharge vaporizes and ionizes the fuse. The tube confines the radial expansion of the plasma such that the plasma exits from both ends of the tube where it reacts with a suitable gas to form nanoscale particles. In addition, the plasma gas ablates and vaporizes a portion of the bore wall to contribute to the nanoceramic synthesis. Other alternatives include replacing the fuse with a thin conductive sheath or a consumable metal insert.

Abstract: An improved matching networks for matching the impedance of a source of variable frequency oscillating energy to a variable load is described. The described matching network includes variable capacitances that can be changed to maintain an impedance match between a source and a load despite rapid changes in the frequency output by the source and rapid changes in load impedance.

Abstract: A method of producing nanocrystalline ceramic powder by creating a plasma stream in a reactor vessel, and physically converting a ceramic precursor material into ceramic particles suspended in the vessel, using the plasma stream. A metallic reactant may additionally be introduced into the vessel using the plasma stream, wherein the metallic reactant forms ceramic particles having the same composition as the ceramic particles of the physical converting step. The plasma stream is created using an electrothermal gun. The gun may use a ceramic barrel which is eroded by the plasma stream. Alternatively (or additionally), the ceramic precursor material may be injected as particulates into the plasma stream, wherein the ceramic precursor particulates are micron-sized or larger. A novel electrothermal gun design may optionally use a replaceable insert constructed of the ceramic precursor material.

Abstract: An interface layer and method is provided that permits applications, without modification, to operate with any type of meter. The interface comprises an abstraction layer and library or repository of descriptions specific to each meter type. The abstraction layer provides the capability to communicate with any meter through a variety of applications. Upon receiving an application request, the abstraction layer retrieves the description for the particular meter type from the repository and processes the request. In this manner, only one data representation is needed for applications to communicate with a wide variety of meters.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanosized powders utilizes a hybrid exploding wire device containing a solid metal wire fuse in the bore of a tube that is open at each end. The ends of the fuse are connected to electrodes on the ends of the tube. The electrodes are designed to erode to maintain a heavy metal plasma. The bore may comprise a corresponding ceramic to be produced, and a microcrystalline powder of a corresponding ceramic may be retained within the bore. An electrical discharge vaporizes and ionizes the fuse. The tube confines the radial expansion of the plasma such that the plasma exits from both ends of the tube where it reacts with a suitable gas to form nanoscale particles. In addition, the plasma gas ablates and vaporizes a portion of the bore wall to contribute to the nanoceramic synthesis. Other alternatives include replacing the fuse with a thin conductive sheath or a consumable metal insert.

Abstract: A method of producing nanocrystalline ceramic powder by creating a plasma stream in a reactor vessel, and physically converting a ceramic precursor material into ceramic particles suspended in the vessel, using the plasma stream. A metallic reactant may additionally be introduced into the vessel using the plasma stream, wherein the metallic reactant forms ceramic particles having the same composition as the ceramic particles of the physical converting step. The plasma stream is created using an electrothermal gun. The gun may use a ceramic barrel which is eroded by the plasma stream. Alternatively (or additionally), the ceramic precursor material may be injected as particulates into the plasma stream, wherein the ceramic precursor particulates are micron-sized or larger. A novel electrothermal gun design may optionally use a replaceable insert constructed of the ceramic precursor material.

Abstract: An acoustic inkjet print head with a plurality of transducers for generating acoustic waves utilizes an individual control circuit for each transducer. The transducers are responsive to their respective control circuit to oscillate at a resonance frequency, which is defined by the respective transducer, its control circuit and the glass substrate.

Abstract: The run-flat tire of this invention includes a pair of bead regions, a crown region with a tread and a tread reinforcing package including a cap ply and self supporting sidewalls between each bead region and the crown region. An innerliner ply maintains air within the inflated tire. The self supporting sidewalls each include a first crescent-shaped reinforcing member, an inner carcass layer, an inner sidewall supporting complex and an outer sidewall and bead protecting complex. The supporting sidewalls effectively have a plurality of crescent-shaped reinforcing members and a plurality of carcass layers. The sidewall supporting complexes are realized by providing first and second partial carcass layers along with a filler rubber portion and a second crescent-shaped reinforcing member, which can be formed by a separate tire building operation. The sidewall protecting complexes can be formed in a similar operation.

Abstract: An improved positioning system and method for use in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations each having a corresponding coverage area. Scaled contour shapes are generated having minimum and maximum boundaries based upon determined RF measurements of each of the base stations. The intersections of the contour shapes define a bounding polygon area that describes the position of a mobile unit in terms of minimum and maximum error estimate. Once the bounding polygon area has been defined, the latitude and longitude of the center of the polygon area is determined whereupon corresponding street addresses may be obtained through reference to one or more databases.

Abstract: The run-flat tire of this invention includes a pair of bead regions, a crown region with a tread and a tread reinforcing package including a cap ply and self supporting sidewalls between each bead region and the crown region. An innerliner ply maintains air within the inflated tire. The self supporting sidewalls each include a first crescent-shaped reinforcing member, an inner carcass layer, an inner sidewall supporting complex and an outer sidewall and bead protecting complex. The supporting sidewalls effectively have a plurality of crescent-shaped reinforcing members and a plurality of carcass layers. The sidewall supporting complexes are realized by providing first and second partial carcass layers along with a filler rubber portion and a second crescent-shaped reinforcing member, which can be formed by a separate tire building operation. The sidewall protecting complexes can be formed in a similar operation.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement is made vibration-proof based on mating male and female spline members. The male spline member is incorporated into the outside diameter of a shaft, while the female spline member is incorporated into the bore of a coupling hub. The spline shaft is received in the spline bore. The coupling hub includes two perpendicular cuts through the splined portion thereof, to permit selected radially-inward compression of such portion for shrink fitting thereof onto the spline shaft. The outside diameter of such coupling hub splined portion is also adapted for receiving a clamping collar, which may be tightened to compress the hub and effect a tight fit with the splined shaft, thereby facilitating the application of effective clamping force, while eliminating all play and fretting corrosion between the shaft and coupling hub.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a combined same cycle and subsequent cycle control of an injection molding machine. Mold cavity pressure readings are accumulated and averaged during an initial cycle portion to generate a sensed average value which is compared to a setpoint reference to test for an error. The error signal so generated is used to immediately vary the hydraulic pressure driving the injection ram during the same cycle of machine operation to cause the sensed pressure profile to be corrected to a reference pressure profile. A further correction to the hydraulic pressure is enabled as cavity pressure readings are continued to a later event, averaged, and the resulting sensed value compared to a setpoint reference to enable a further correction to be implemented during the same cycle although its effect on the process is principally effective in the next subsequent cycle.

Abstract: A detachable truck bed extension and loading ramp for use with trucks having a truck bed employed in carrying heavy construction machinery or the like is provided. The loading ramp is securely attached to the rear edge of the truck bed and, when in a transporting position, two triangular lower sections thereof are folded over and upon two triangular upper sections, thereby providing a convenient truck bed extension. A base plate, which also serves as the truck bed extension and which in the transportation position, rests upon four base pieces of the lower sections. The lower sections are connected by hinges to the upper sections. The upper sections are securely mounted by means of bolts and weight bearing grooves to the back of the truck in such fashion that the top ends of the ramp panels are flush with the edge of the truck bed.