Abstract: A baffle assembly (23) positioned between a pipetter assembly (10) and a disposable pipette tip (16) for substantially reducing transfer of aerosol and/or fluid specimens to the pipetter. The baffle assembly (23) includes a barrier structure (25) extending transversely across a receiving chamber (17) of the pipette tip (16) and defines at least one narrow passageway (26) extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis (27) through the barrier member (25) between an entrance (30) and an exit (31) thereof. The passageway (26) includes a first wall (32) extending generally transverse, and preferably perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis (27) of the pipette tip to define at least one elbow portion positioned between the entrance (30) and the exit (31) of the passageway. A filter membrane (55) preferably is secured across the passageway (26) to reduce aerosol transport through the passageway (26).

Abstract: A sealing device for a container is provided with a sealing member that varies the sealing capacity of the device in response to pressure changes within the container.

Abstract: A computer controlled system for high speed surface mount adhesive placement in circuit board production includes a dot generator supported for motion along the X, Y and Z axes. The dot generator ejects a jet of viscous adhesive that breaks away from the nozzle of the dot generator as a result of its own forward momentum. The system includes an automatic circuit board conveyor with adjustable width and pneumatically operated lift and lock mechanisms. The system runs through a self-diagnostic set-up procedure and dot calibration routine. Dot size and location are monitored through a video camera and vision circuit. A computer interfaces with the vision circuit and with motion, dot generator and conveyor controllers so that the system can operate in a high volume production assembly line. Application programs are executed by the system computer typically utilizing CAD data from a disk or a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) controller.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injector pulsewidth is calculated as a function of desired fuel mass and injector pressure. Accounting for variations in injection pressures provides improved accuracy of fuel mass injection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a liquid coating material formulation or solution containing a nitrocellulose liquid coating composition and a supercritical fluid as a fluid diluent includes structure for combining the two components within a circuitous flow path or loop to form the coating material solution or formulation, while ensuring that the dissolved solids within the liquid coating composition do not precipitate and clog the supply of fluid diluent into the loop.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spraying adhesive compositions having a high solids content comprises a source of supercritical fluid diluent such as supercritical carbon dioxide, a source of virgin adhesive, an adhesive dispenser and a mixer communicating with each source of material and with the dispenser. The mixer includes a dynamic mixing element which agitates the viscous adhesive material allowing the supercritical carbon dioxide to be effectively dispersed into the adhesive, thus forming an adhesive composition with a high solids content having a relatively low viscosity suitable for spray application of the adhesive.

Abstract: A feedforward control system for an electrically operated fuel injection pump for an internal combustion engine includes a controller for determining required fuel pressure and flow rate to be delivered by the pump and for using the determined fuel pressure and flow rate to determine a variable operating voltage for the pump. The variable operating voltage may be delivered as a pulsewidth modulated voltage, with the system being used to operate the pump in an open loop fashion.

Abstract: A flame arrestor is disclosed for use with an intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylindrical housing defining an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of honeycombed passageways extending between the inlet and the outlet, wherein each of the plurality of honeycombed passageways has a predetermined length and a predetermined small cross-section substantially smaller than the predetermined length. The cylindrical housing is welded within a mounting bracket adapted for receipt in the intake of the internal combustion engine. The flame arrestor is particularly beneficial for use in a boosted engine in that cooling effectiveness and manufacturability are enhanced by the use of the honeycombed structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation or solution containing a liquid coating composition and a fluid diluent such as a supercritical fluid comprises a supply for the liquid coating composition, a supply for the fluid diluent, a mixer for combining the two components to form the coating material solution or formulation, and a control system for monitoring a parameter of the formulation which can be correlated to the fluid diluent content and/or liquid coating composition content of the formulation, and for monitoring the pressure of the formulation at selected locations within the system.

Abstract: A multiple cap arrangement is provided to seal the open end of a container. The multiple cap seal includes a sealing cap and locking cap which are hingedly coupled to the open end of a container such as a disposable centrifuge container. The sealing cap is lodged in the open end of the container and the locking cap coupled to the sealing cap by a mechanism that retains the caps essentially fixed relative to one another. With the caps coupled in this way, stress, resulting from pressure in the container, is transferred through the caps to the hinges. The hinges are sized to prevent axial movement of the interlocked sealing and locking cap structure away from the container. Since the hinges resist stretching even under substantial tension, the container remains reliably sealed even when the pressures in the container are very high.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation or solution containing a liquid coating composition and a fluid diluent such as a supercritical fluid comprises a supply for the liquid coating composition, a supply for the fluid diluent, a mixer for combining the two components to form the coating material solution or formulation, and a control system for monitoring a parameter of the formulation which can be correlated to the fluid diluent content and/or liquid coating composition content of the formulation, and for monitoring the pressure of the formulation at selected locations within the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and dispensing a coating material formulation containing a liquid coating composition and a supercritical fluid as a diluent comprises a closed vessel having a hollow interior; a system for supplying fluid diluent into the vessel interior and for transforming the fluid diluent into supercritical fluid within the vessel; and, a system for introducing liquid coating composition into the vessel interior in such a way that it is sufficiently exposed to the supercritical fluid to form a fluid diluent rich phase and a liquid coating composition or resin rich phase which is saturated with supercritical fluid up to or near its saturation point for the temperature and pressure conditions within the vessel. The resin rich phase has a higher density than the fluid diluent rich phase and therefore collects on the bottom of the vessel from where it is withdrawn and supplied to coating dispensers for deposition on a substrate.

Abstract: A apparatus of atomizing a high solids viscous composition onto a substrate and foaming the composition comprising mixing a coating composition with a gas forming agent under elevated pressure and temperature. The coating composition is airlessly atomized and projected onto a substrate. The gas remains dissolved in the coating after depositing on the substrate which causes the coating to foam after striking the substrate. The apparatus provides a permanent foam coating composition with uniform cell distribution. The apparatus is particularly suitable for foaming polymeric coatings such as plastisols and foods such as peanut butter or chocolate.

Abstract: A base supports a vertical pivot arm, one end of which supports a pivotal rotation means for a rotation support housing with a plurality of radial connector sockets. One of several pendulum arms can be fitted into each of the radial connector sockets, the pendulum arms supporting a pendulous mass on each pendulum arm. One such pendulum arm is articulated into two portions, each portion with a plurality of additional pendulum arms attached thereto. The apparatus consequently demonstrates the physical principles of not just a simple pendulum, but those of a variety of compound pendulum configurations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a foamable, pressurized solution of a gas and a high viscosity polymeric material in a manner which produces a foamed bead having a hollow core. Initial foaming occurs in a nozzle through which the solution is dispensed to atmosphere, at a core of the bead. Subsequent foaming of of the bead exteriorly of the core occurs outside the nozzle, and results in an extruded, foamed bead of high viscosity polymeric material having a tubular shape and particularly suitable for form-in-place gasket applications.

Abstract: A two-component thermosetting polymer system is formed and dispensed by adding a foaming agent to one of two components of the polymer system. A solution of the foaming agent in the first component is formed in a supply tank. The foaming agent and first component solution is then mixed with a second component at a dispensing head or nozzle. By adding the foaming agent to only one of the two components and, in particular, by forming a solution of the foaming agent in the first component one is able to very carefully control the foam density of the cured end product.

Abstract: Hanger device for clothing and particularly womens under garments which includes an elongated flat, plastic body (10) having a central hook section (15) and including at each end a depending end portion (32,34). The end sections include a saw tooth type slot (30) extending upwardly and inwardly at a predetermined angle from end edge (20). The saw tooth shape of the slot defines a series of coacting triangular teeth. The depending end sections include a flexible lower end portion (34). A second slot (40) may be included to angle downwardly and outwardly from the top edges (16) if desired.

Abstract: A method of atomizing a high solids viscous composition onto a substrate and foaming the composition comprising mixing a coating composition with a gas foaming agent under elevated pressure and temperature. The coating composition is airlessly atomized and projected onto a substrate. The gas remains dissolved in the coating after depositing on the substrate which causes the coating to foam after striking the substrate. The method provides a permanent foam coating composition with uniform cell distribution. The method is particularly suitable for foaming polymeric coatings such as plastisols and foods such as peanut butter or chocolate.

Abstract: A device for measuring the ability of a human operator to stabilize an inherently unstable system so as to maintain an output signal on a display terminal within a preset limit. The difficulty is automatically increased at a relatively fast rate until the human operator approaches the limits of his ability to maintain the output signal within the limits. The difficulty is then increased at a relatively slow rate until the human operator is no longer able to maintain the output of the testing device within preselected limits. The device is mechanized using a general purpose microprocessor and utilizes binary shifts rather than multiplication or division operations in order to achieve real time operation at a sufficiently fast rate in order to test the limits of human ability.

Abstract: A device for aiding and encouraging a child to brush his or her teeth regularly. The device is provided with a pair of nonrotatable shafts each of which mounts seven rotatable blocks shaped like a molar tooth, each block representing either the morning or night of a particularly day during which a child should brush his teeth. The front surface faces of the blocks form a frowning mouth with dirty teeth, while the rear surface faces form a pattern of a smiling mouth with white teeth after all of the blocks have been rotated 180 degrees. Each block is rotated to expose a portion of the smile and to remove a portion of the frown after each tooth brushing in the morning and evening of each day.