Abstract: A filter/sanitizer has a filter housing, provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a filter cartridge with a hollow interior, located within the filter housing, and a sanitizer cartridge, with a hollow core, positioned within the hollow interior of the filter cartridge. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitizer cartridge is constructed with an outer fluid-permeable member and an inner fluid-permeable member, the outer and inner members substantially enveloping a space therebetween, with the space containing a sanitizing media bed. In operation, as fluid enters the filter housing through the fluid inlet, substantially the full flow of fluid passes through the filter cartridge, through the sanitizer cartridge and around the sanitizing media contained within the bed, into the hollow core of the sanitizer cartridge, and out of the filter housing through the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A shield is applied to a permeable core in a predetermined pattern, where the predetermined pattern covers less than the entire surface area of the permeable core.

Abstract: A shield is applied to a permeable core in a predetermined pattern, where the predetermined pattern covers less than the entire surface area of the permeable core.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting an optical signal. The method includes the step of generating an optical signal that includes a plurality of optical channels, which are sequentially numbered from 1 to N from lowest to highest wavelength. A state-of-polarization of predetermined odd-numbered channels is oriented to be substantially orthogonal to a state of polarization of predetermined even-numbered channels by directing the predetermined odd-numbered channels and the predetermined even-numbered channels through orthogonally polarizing inputs of a polarization coupler. The odd-numbered channels and the even-numbered channels may be directed through first and second wavelength combiners, respectively, prior to orienting their states of polarization.

Abstract: A plastic mounting plate closes a junction box which delivers wires to an alarm unit or emergency light or the like. The mounting plate is connected to the junction box by screws which engage threaded holes provided by the junction box. The mounting plate can be mounted to either a single-wide junction box or a double-wide junction box and provides corresponding holes for connection to either box. An alternate mounting plate for a single-wide junction box is also provided. An alarm device can be connected to the mounting plate directly by screws or by a combination of a single screw and a tab which is received into a slot onto the mounting plate. The mounting plate can be color-coded for a particular alarm service, such as fire, weather warnings, or other emergency condition.

Abstract: A system for mounting two alarm-indicating or condition-sensing modules side-by-side onto a junction box provides installation flexibility to locate a particular module on the right or left side of the respective other module. A loudspeaker module can be centered on the junction box and a strobe light module can be placed either on the right side or the left side of the junction box by 180.degree. rotation of a common elongated rectangular frame and 180.degree. rotation of the strobe light module with respect to the frame. The loudspeaker module includes fastener receiving holes aligned with fastener engagement holes of a standard 4".times.4" junction box for securing the loudspeaker module and the common frame with the strobe light module attached thereto, to the junction box. The frame includes a recessed region to receive and support the strobe light module.

Abstract: A miniature electro-optic voltage sensor system capable of accurate operation at high voltages without use of the dedicated voltage dividing hardware. The invention achieves voltage measurement without significant error contributions from neighboring conductors or environmental perturbations. The invention employs a transmitter, a sensor, a detector, and a signal processor. The transmitter produces a beam of electromagnetic radiation which is routed into the sensor. Within the sensor the beam undergoes the Pockels electro-optic effect. The electro-optic effect produces a modulation of the beam's polarization, which is in turn converted to a pair of independent conversely-amplitude-modulated signals, from which the voltage of the E-field is determined by the signal processor. The use of converse AM signals enables the signal processor to better distinguish signal from noise.

Abstract: A method for creating and configuring a component-based application through text-based descriptive attribute grammar includes creating a parse tree from an application description file, transforming the parse tree into a plurality of components corresponding to instances of classes in an application framework, and initializing and further processing the components to launch the component-based application. Additionally, a system for creating and configuring a component-based application includes a parser, a plurality of element processors, an element mapper, an attribute mapper, and a parameter converter.

Abstract: A family of covers having identical indented base regions for receiving a plurality of diverse alarm indicating and/or condition-sensing modules thereon. The alarm indicating modules each have a common "footprint" for being snugly received into the indented base region of each cover. A family of covered modules thus assembled, achieves an architecturally pleasing, universal design, and reduces tool and manufacturing costs by producing common parts among the varied alarm indicating devices.

Abstract: A battery charger system for providing a temperature compensated charging output voltage to a battery. The battery charger system includes a voltage source and an output circuit coupled to the voltage source and the battery for supplying the charging output voltage to the battery. The output circuit includes a diode compensation network that is responsive to variations in temperature near the battery to vary the charging output voltage supplied to the battery. Methods for providing a temperature compensated charging output voltage to a battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filter/sanitizer has a filter housing, provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a filter cartridge with a hollow interior, located within the filter housing, and a sanitizer cartridge, with a hollow core, positioned within the hollow interior of the filter cartridge. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitizer cartridge is constructed with an outer fluid-permeable member and an inner fluid-permeable member, the outer and inner members substantially enveloping a space therebetween, with the space containing a sanitizing media bed. In operation, as fluid enters the filter housing through the fluid inlet, substantially the full flow of fluid passes through the filter cartridge, through the sanitizer cartridge and around the sanitizing media contained within the bed, into the hollow core of the sanitizer cartridge, and out of the filter housing through the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A dual chemical feeder device treats a fluid simultaneously with two different chemical compositions which may not be wholly compatible. In an exemplary embodiment for application in swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and the like, a chlorinator is combined with a sanitizing canister in a chlorinator/sanitizer to chemically treat the full flow of water through the apparatus with a chlorine-based chemical composition and another chemical composition. In alternate embodiments, the chlorinator/sanitizer is configured as a parallel treatment unit and as a series treatment unit. In the series treatment unit, the full flow through the chlorinator also flows through the sanitizing media in the santizing canister, so that all the water is both chlorinated and sanitized by the chlorinator/sanitizer. In the parallel treatment unit, the flow within the unit is divided into two streams which are separately treated.

Abstract: An improvement to the tone and responsiveness of brass instruments is achieved by holding preshaped pieces of damping material, preferably a waxy, hot-melt adhesive, pressed against surfaces of the instrument tubing sections such as valve casings and tubing sections at particular locations, to reduce sympathetic vibrations of the instrument structure.

Abstract: A composition which can be fiberized to form high quality insulation wool, and which has been formulated from naturally-occuring rock minerals such as basalts, granites, limestone, dolomite and sandstone, optionally including by-products of industrial processes such as molybdenum or steel slag and grate ash, and/or high alumina materials such as China Clay and/or boron containing minerals such as Ulexite, said composition comprising the following components, given in wt %, based on the total weight of the composition:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 51-68 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 5-18 wt % ______________________________________with the total amount of SiO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 being from 62 to 75 wt %, ______________________________________ Na.sub.2 O 0-6 wt % K.sub.2 O 0-5 wt % ______________________________________with the total amount of Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O being from 0 to 7.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transmitting an optical signal. The apparatus includes an optical signal source for generating an optical signal having a plurality of optical channels onto which data is modulated at a plurality of predetermined frequencies to provide a plurality of optical data channels. An amplitude modulator is coupled to the optical signal source for modulating each of the optical channels with a waveform that is independently adjustable from one another. A clock, coupled to the amplitude modulator, has a plurality of frequencies that respectively determine the modulation frequencies imparted to the plurality of optical channels by the amplitude modulator. Each of the frequencies of the clock is phase locked and equal to its respective predetermined frequency at which is data is modulated.

Abstract: The invention is an electro-optic voltage sensor head designed for integration with existing types of high voltage transmission and distribution apparatus. The sensor head contains a transducer, which comprises a transducing material in which the Pockels electro-optic effect is observed. In the practice of the invention at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation is routed into the transducing material of the transducer in the sensor head. The beam undergoes an electro-optic effect in the sensor head when the transducing material is subjected to an E-field. The electro-optic effect is observed as a differential phase a shift, also called differential phase modulation, of the beam components in orthogonal planes of the electromagnetic radiation. In the preferred embodiment the beam is routed through the transducer along an initial axis and then reflected by a retro-reflector back substantially parallel to the initial axis, making a double pass through the transducer for increased measurement sensitivity.

Abstract: A device for filtering fluid includes a hollow housing (10) having a fluid inlet (26) and a fluid outlet (28). A filter element (50) formed of fluid permeable material is disposed within the housing (10) for filtering fluid entering the fluid inlet (26), the fluid passing through the element (50) and out the fluid outlet (28). The element has a generally cylindrical configuration with the permeable material forming a plurality of elongated, radially extending pleats (98). The pleats are supported by spacers (81) having a plurality of blades (102) attached to a web (106) with channels (104) therebetween. The element (50) is used as a septum for supporting a diatomaceous earth precoat. A regeneration piston (76) creates fluid flows within the filter that cause the element (50) to flutter, thereby displacing the diatomaceous earth precoat from the septum for regeneration.

Abstract: A vacuum compatible hyperthermal atom generator includes a membrane having two sides, the membrane having the capability of dissolving atoms into the membrane's bulk. A first housing is furnished in operative association with the first side of the membrane to provide for the exposure of the first side of the membrane to a gas species. A second housing is furnished in operative association with the second side of the membrane to provide a vacuum environment having a pressure of less than 1.times.10.sup.-3 Torr on the second side of the membrane. Exciting means excites atoms adsorbed on the second side of the membrane to a non-binding state so that a portion from 0% to 100% of atoms adsorbed on the second side of is the membrane are released from the second side of the membrane primarily as an atom beam.

Abstract: A folding ball hitch having a recessed safety chain latching mechanism is of the type normally mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. The ball is foldable from an upright or active position to a down or stowed position in which the ball does not interfere with the usage of the bed when the truck is not towing a trailer. To accommodate the safety chains of a trailer, the present invention provides a sliding rod mounted below the mounting plate of the hitch. Chain link sized slots are formed in the mounting plate. The end links of the safety chains can be inserted into the slots and the rod can be slid from one side to the other to securely lock the chains in respective slots. The rod is biased toward a latching position wherein the rod can be manually translated to open the slot for allowing insertion of a link of the safety chain, following which the rod can be returned to its center position in which the link is secured and any chain forces are transferred by the rod directly to the mounting structure.