Abstract: A hermetically sealed processing device with a catalyst storage and delivery capsule. The processing device is an elongate, tubular container that is hermetically sealed on each end by end plates. The processing device contains a screw conveyor with an arbor concentric about the long axis of the tubular container. The screw conveyor protrudes through each end plate and is mounted within a hermetic seal. The processing device further comprises a feed-stock-input port and a catalyst-input port on an input end of the processing device. Various heat zones as well as internal and surface temperature reading-probes reside along the length of the processing device. The output end of the processing device has a solid matter output port, a gas output port and a vacuum pump to evacuate gases through the gas output port.

Abstract: A gas discharge device, such as a neon tube, is connected to a pair of output terminals of a power supply. The power supply has a transformer with a secondary winding that has first and second sub-windings. Each of the sub-winding is connected to a different output terminal and two conductors connect the first and second sub-windings to earth ground. A current sensor detects whether unequal magnitudes of current flow through in the two conductors. A resonant control circuit applies an excitation current to the primary winding of the transformer unless an imbalance of current flows. Thus excitation of the transformer is terminated when a high voltage ground fault occurs.

Abstract: A transformer has a primary winding connected in series with a direct current source, a solid state switch and a current sensing resistor. A reactive element is coupled to the primary winding to form a resonant circuit. A high voltage for exciting a gaseous discharge device is produced across a first secondary winding of the transformer. A second resistor couples a terminal of the direct current source to one plate of a storage capacitor that has another plate connected to a second terminal of the direct current source. The one plate of the storage capacitor also is connected to a second secondary winding of the transformer. The control circuitry for the power supply is biased by voltage stored across the capacitor.

Abstract: A luminous sign (10) comprising three sandwiched plates: a front transparent legend plate (12) incorporating a legend (12a), a center feedthrough plate (14) having a set of termination bores (14a) and crossover bores (14b), and a back crossover cavity plate (16) having a first and second power/gas input bore (16b) (16c) and a crossover cavity (16a) across each set of crossover bores (14b). When all three plates are aligned and hermetically bonded a continuous gas passage is provided through the first power/gas input bore (16b), termination bore (14a), legend (12a), crossover bore (14b), through the crossover cavity (16a), a crossover bore (14b) and again through the legend (12a). The gas path continues through subsequent passages terminating at the second power/gas input bore (16c). Into the power/gas input bores (b 16b) (16c) is hermetically inserted a tubulated electrode (18) and a non-tubulated electrode respectively.