Abstract: An apparatus for treating a flow of water containing contaminants includes first and second permeable electrodes and a power supply is coupled to each of the first and second permeable electrodes to create an electrical potential therebetween. The first and second permeable electrodes are disposed within the flow of water containing contaminants with the first permeable electrode upstream from the second permeable electrode and the water containing contaminants flowing through and between the permeable electrodes. The permeable electrodes are spaced a select distance to promote an electric current in the water containing contaminants between the electrodes sufficient to sustain oxidation or reduction of the contaminants in the vicinity of the electrodes. The electrodes are preferably substantially planar plates disposed in parallel and substantially normal to the direction of water flow. The distance between the plates is between about 0.001 and 1 meter.

Abstract: A preferred data display apparatus (10) includes an engine analyzer (14), computer (16) and a display device (18). The computer (16) receives waveform data representative of a waveform characteristic of engine operation from the analyzer (14) and produces a waveform display on the device (18) representative of the waveform. The waveform display includes segments (30a, 30b, 30c) displayed in different colors and in a three-dimensional representation. In preferred forms, a mouse (20) is used to snap a cursor (32) along the waveform and display includes amplitude and time data representative of the position coordinates of the cursor (32) and thereby representative of the cursor's position on the waveform. The preferred apparatus is operable to display waveforms derived from different sources.

Abstract: A system for separating small macromolecules by electrophoresis, the system comprising:

Abstract: An inlining code generator, executing external to a runtime environment, reproduces the processing of an innerloop of an interpreter for the runtime environment. The inlining code generator processes a program in the interpreted language and produces a corresponding program in a compiled language. The compiled language program is compiled into a native language program using a standard compiler specific to the underlying hardware. Because the native language program operates within the framework of the runtime environment, functions and routines provided by the runtime environment are available to the native language program.

Abstract: An X-ray tube anode comprises a graphite ring, a target substrate applied onto the graphite ring and a target focal track applied onto the target substrate. The target focal track comprises a first refractory metal and the target substrate comprises a second refractory metal and at least one layer of a material that is characterized by characterized by a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is the same as the CTE of the target focal track or is intermediate between the CTE of the target focal track and the CTE of the substrate.

Abstract: An incremental garbage collector is disclosed. Upon termination of a function or program, the incremental garbage collector scans the object heap for objects allocated by the function or program that are not referenced outside the function or program that allocated the objects. Memory occupied by such objects is immediately reclaimed without having to wait for the garbage collector.

Abstract: Rare earth alloy compositions, such as the neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) alloy are made by a Reduction-Melting process. The Reduction-Melting process comprises preparing a primary electrode containing at least one compound or metal to be reduced to form a refined metal or metal alloy ingot; placing the electrode in an electroslag refining furnace; passing a current through the electrode into a molten flux or slag to melt the electrode; reducing the metal or compound in the slag while forming an oxide by-product; collecting melted metal or metal alloy droplets falling through the slag; forming an ingot of the metal or metal alloy from the melted droplets; and collecting the solid oxide byproducts in the slag.

Abstract: An improved X-ray tube target comprises a refractory metal target substrate and a refractory metal focal track applied to the target substrate by a tape casting process. The X-ray tube target comprises a refractory metal target substrate and a refractory metal focal track formed on the target substrate to form a focal track/target substrate interface plane that varies less than about ±0.13 mm.

Abstract: A VAR process is conducted in an apparatus characterized by a crucible wall that provides a stable shelf anchor. The VAR apparatus includes a furnace chamber, a consumable electrode formed of a material to be remelted within the furnace chamber and a crucible within the furnace chamber. The crucible has a wall that forms a vessel to collect melt material from the consumable electrode. At least part of the wall is textured to provide area for mechanical stabilization of the shelf as the underside of the shelf melts and the upperside of the shelf forms. In a vacuum arc remelting process, a consumable electrode is loaded into a furnace chamber above a cooled crucible having a textured wall that forms a vessel to collect melt material from the consumable electrode. The process includes striking a direct electric current between the electrode and a bottom of the crucible to cause melting of material from a tip of the electrode. Melt material is collected from the tip in the crucible.

Abstract: An improved X-ray tube target comprises a refractory metal target substrate and a refractory metal focal track applied to the target substrate by a tape casting process. The X-ray tube target comprises a refractory metal target substrate and a refractory metal focal track formed on the target substrate to form a focal track/target substrate interface plane that varies less than about ±0.13 mm.

Abstract: The flowrate of a stream discharged from a drain in a vessel is measured by imaging the stream, measuring a diameter of the stream image, and calculating the flowrate based on the measured diameter. A video camera may be aimed below the drain for imaging the stream. A computer is joined to the camera for measuring the diameter of the stream and calculating a corresponding flowrate therefor.

Abstract: An article that comprises a fine-grain, homogeneous microstructure is essentially oxide- and sulfide-free and segregation defect free. The article is produced by a process that comprises forming a source of clean refined metal that has oxides and sulfides refined out by electroslag refining; and forming the article by nucleated casting. The invention also sets forth the article made by a system for implementing the clean metal nucleated casting process.

Abstract: An X-ray tube anode comprises a graphite ring, a target substrate applied onto the graphite ring and a target focal track applied onto the target substrate. The target focal track comprises a first refractory metal and the target substrate comprises a second refractory metal and at least one layer of a material that is characterized by characterized by a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is the same as the CTE of the target focal track or is intermediate between the CTE of the target focal track and the CTE of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow rate of the stream from an electroslag refining apparatus is taught. The system includes the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.

Abstract: A consumable electrode is suspended by a stub. The stub includes upper and lower hangers between which is vertically mounted a loadcell for weighing the electrode attached to the lower hanger. An electrical conductor is joined between the upper and lower hangers for carrying electrical current therebetween to power the electrode without damaging the loadcell.

Abstract: A guide tube structure for flux concentration is provided. The discharge guide tube comprises a central orifice that extends from a source of metal to an outlet in the discharge guide tube for directing a stream of melt therethrough; a structure that generates an electromagnetic field in the discharge guide tube; and an interior discharge guide tube flux concentration configuration that is capable of concentrating at least one of heat, electromagnetic field, and electromagnetic flux onto the stream of melt that flows through the central orifice. The electromagnetic field is applied at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: Systems for controlling the superheat of the stream of molten metal from an electroslag refining apparatus is taught. The systems include the introduction of unrefined metal into an electroslag refining process apparatus in which the unrefined metal is first melted at the upper surface of the refining slag. The molten metal is refined as it passes through the molten slag. The refined metal is collected in a cold hearth apparatus having a skull of refined metal formed on the surface of the cold hearth for protecting the cold hearth from the leaching action of the refined molten metal. A cold finger bottom pour spout or exit orifice is formed at the bottom of the cold hearth to permit dispensing of molten refined metal from the cold hearth.

Abstract: A permanent magnet having substantially stable magnetic properties is disclosed having as the active magnetic component a sintered product of compacted particulate iron-boron-rare earth intermetallic material, said sintered product having pores which are substantially non-interconnecting, a density of at least 87 percent of theoretical and a composition consisting essentially of in atomic percent about 13 to about 19 percent rare earth elements, about 4 to about 20 percent boron and about 61 to about 83 percent of iron with or without impurities; where the rare earth content is greater than 50 percent praseodymium with an effective amount of a light rare earth selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, yttrium and mixtures thereof, and balance neodymium.

Abstract: A melt guide is provided for enclosing a bottom of an electroslag refining crucible containing a melt of electroslag refined metal. The guide includes an upper plate sized to engage the crucible bottom for attachment thereto, and includes an upper orifice drain therethrough for draining by gravity the melt from the crucible. A lower plate is spaced below the upper plate to define a plenum therebetween, and includes a lower orifice drain therethrough. A downspout extends through the plenum in flow communication between the upper and lower drains, and includes a middle orifice drain. A heater surrounds the downspout for heating the melt drainable therethrough. And, a coolant is circulated through the plenum for cooling the guide.

Abstract: A cold hearth for an electroslag refining crucible includes a floor above which a melt pools. The floor includes a drain for draining the melt by gravity. A plug is deployed inside the drain to block discharge of the melt therethrough, and an actuator is attached to the plug for withdrawing the plug from the drain to permit drainage of the melt upon startup.