Abstract: Site cast or pre-cast columns aligned and braced by pre-cast pre-stressed floor beams are used to erect a concrete skeleton structure for a building. The ends of the horizontal beams are imbedded in the columns at floor levels to stabilize and complete the skeleton. The horizontal beams are pre-stressed and are cast with passages that permit insertion of continuous reinforcing tendons into a network throughout each floor level. The tendons are subsequently post-tensioned so to tie the beams together and to the columns to reinforce the skeleton. Slab drop-forms starting at the roof and progressing floor-by-floor downward allow monolithic post-tensioned floor slabs to be cast to tie the skeleton into a unitary structure. The beams are usually integrated (buried) into each monolithic floor slab, keyed, doweled and bonded with bonding agent at cold joints to become a part of the slab structure.

Abstract: Pellicles separated by a distance sufficient to allow a purge gas help repair damage to at least one of the pellicles caused by exposure to an incident radiation and allowing at least a minimum amount of radiation to reach a semiconductor wafer sufficient to perform a desired photolythography process. Moreover, the two pellicles separated by a sufficient distance such that a dispersed purge gas dispersed between the pellicles will not absorb more than an amount of energy from the incident radiation so as to prevent a desired amount of the radiation to reach a semiconductor wafer located a certain distance away from the pellicles.

Abstract: Exposure systems may use pellicles made of perfluoropoly-ether. These materials may exhibit reduced darkening upon repeated exposures compared to other materials.

Abstract: Site cast or pre-cast columns aligned and braced by pre-cast pre-stressed floor beams are used to erect a concrete skeleton structure for a building. The ends of the horizontal beams are imbedded in the columns at floor levels to stabilize and complete the skeleton. The horizontal beams are pre-stressed and are cast with passages that permit insertion of continuous reinforcing tendons into a network throughout each floor level. The tendons are subsequently post-tensioned so to tie the beams together and to the columns to reinforce the skeleton. Slab drop-forms starting at the roof and progressing floor-by-floor downward allow monolithic post-tensioned floor slabs to be cast to tie the skeleton into a unitary structure. The beams are usually integrated (buried) into each monolithic floor slab, keyed, doweled and bonded with bonding agent at cold joints to become a part of the slab structure.

Abstract: Contamination control apparatus and methods for the removal of particulate contamination on EUV mirrors and reflective masks are provided. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention involve providing a charge to the particles and moving them away from the reflective surface by electrostatic elements. An electron source and one or more electrostatic elements are positioned adjacent the reflective surface of the reflective component. The electron source is adapted to shower electrons onto the particles in an area above the reflective surface and on the reflective surface to provide a negative charge to the particles. The electrostatic elements are adapted to provide an attractive electrostatic charge to attract the negatively charged particles on and near the reflective surface.

Abstract: Apparatuses for handling cargo in a body of water incorporate a high floating slender pylon floating upright in the water. The pylon is maintained afloat by a submerged variable buoyancy chamber carried by the pylon between its ends. Ballast carried by the pylon below the buoyancy chamber creates a righting couple about the buoyancy chamber that maintains the upright orientation of the pylon in the water. In a method of handling cargo, the top of the upright pylon is drawn toward a surface vessel carrying cargo to be transferred using the pylon. Cargo placed on the upper end of the tilted pylon can be supported stably above the water surface when the pylon is allowed to return to an upright orientation. The cargo can then be transferred to another surface vessel by reversing the steps used to place the cargo on the pylon. Among other uses, the pylon can be deployed for rescue at sea.

Abstract: A high floating rescue pylon with a passenger compartment at the top and a long narrow portion of the pylon above water with a submerged buoyancy compartment located on the pylon a distance above a ballast chamber at the lower end of the pylon. The unsubmerged portion of the pylon is designed to be high enough to clear the tallest wave crest. The buoyancy compartment is designed to be below water at all times and high enough above the ballast chamber that a pylon righting moment is created by a couple between the center of buoyancy of that chamber and the center of gravity of the ballast chamber. This righting moment is made great enough to create a stable passenger compartment high above the highest waves.

Abstract: Disposal of halogenated organic hazardous wastes by introducing them as feedstocks in the direct reduction of iron oxide (DRI). (DRI is described in Pat. RE.32247.) The novel hydrocarbons used as reducing feedstocks would normally be destined to become hazardous wastes or else their products of decomposition would be hazardous wastes. Such hydrocarbons are inclusive of but not limited to halogenated hydrocarbons such as PVC, PCBs, various insecticides, dioxin and others. This category of hydrocarbon wastes is otherwise difficult to utilize, incinerate, or otherwise dispose of safely. Polluting byproducts such as dioxin are almost always released. However within a DRI reactor they can be disposed of safely. There is no stack or vent to atmosphere. These hydrocarbons would be used as an alternative to or admixture with the usual hydrocarbon feedstocks of choice, methane or related short chain hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for raising concrete floor slabs to form a multi-floor structure. Slabs are cast near ground level with apertures cast for well placed columns. The slabs are lifted sequentially, uppermost first, by an air cushion backed up by follower means to hold the slabs safely at any elevation reached. The air cushion is created between the current uppermost slab, the slab below, and the walls of a steel enclosure erected around the stacked slabs and extending upward allowing slabs to travel upward.

Abstract: An omnidirectional ultrasonic microprobe hydrophone is disclosed. Applicans include underwater mine detection, explosive shock testing, high wave number measurements, medical imaging, and therapeutic systems. The apparatus includes at least two lead zirconate titanate (PZT) pressure sensing elements having a plurality of columnar voids formed therein. The pressure sensing elements are deposited on a metallic or nonmetallic substrate which provides mechanical support for the microprobe hydrophone. Electrical connection to the pressure sensing elements is made by deposition of conductors and insulators on the substrate material. Wire bonds are used to attach wire leads for connection to a supporting structure containing a preamplifier. Line arrays and planar arrays of microprobe hydrophone elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for repairing the rear oil seal for an engine including a plurality of tool inserts. A tool assembly is aligned with respect to the crankshaft and when aligned is used to apply a longitudinal installation force to the repair sleeve that has been designed to permanently cover a worn portion of the crankshaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for absorbing acoustic energy directed toward a wall. The appars includes a piezoelectric layer intermediate the wall and the source of the acoustic energy. Circuitry attached to the output of the transducer compensates blocked and motional capacitances of the transducer so that the output signal generates real current for dissipation in a resistor thereby to minimize any echo reflected from the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: An acoustically transparent voided, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hydrope made of material whose impedance matches the characteristic acoustic impedance (.rho.c) of sea water, having drastically reduced diffraction and resonance effects. The frequency response is thus flat at frequencies less than one-half elastic wavelength in the PVDF material. An array of such hydrophones in front of a projector saves space without affecting projector performance.