Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the concentration of solid particles in a fluid stream wherein a critical flow orifice produces a stream of fluid having a constant velocity, a surface for effecting triboelectric charging of the particles in the gas in the constant velocity stream and a charge measuring device for measuring the charges thus triboelectrically imparted to the particles. The apparatus overcomes the inaccuracies which occur in prior art particle detectors when such particle detectors are used to monitor fluid streams whose velocity is variable e.g. air intake systems for internal combustion engines which operate at varying speeds.

Abstract: An electro-inertial precipitator unit for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream passing through a collector tube having a discharge electrode coaxially disposed therein to establish an electrostatic field between the electrode and a downwardly-flowing water film on the inner surface of the tube. The gaseous stream is introduced tangentially into an upper inlet section of the tube to impart a swirling motion thereto, the water being supplied to an annular inlet slot just below the gas inlet section. Because of the centrifugal force generated by the cyclonic motion, the particles in the gaseous stream are urged to migrate toward the water film, this migration being further promoted by the electrostatic force acting on the particles which are charged with ions in the field. Air is blown over the surface of the upper lip of the water inlet slot to prevent wetting of this surface and the deposition of dust therein.

Abstract: The improvement in an electroluminescent lamp and the method of making same, including providing a polymer on the lamp structure and encapsulating the lamp with the polymer in a hard surface moisture impervious layer on each side of the device through the application of pressure and heat at selected conditions of pressure and temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of particles in a gas using an electrode disposed within but electrically insulated from an electrically-conductive conduit member, a current measuring device and means for maintaining the conduit member and the electrode at substantially the same potential. Flow of gas containing charged particles along the conduit induces a current passing from the electrode through the current measuring device. If the concentration of particles in the gas becomes excessive, the current measuring device activates a warning device or takes other action to prevent damage to any gas-consuming device attached to the apparatus. The apparatus might include an optional ionizer upstream of the electrode to charge the particles in the gas.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of large particles in a gas which may also contain small particles. The apparatus comprises a triboelectric charging means which effects triboelectric charging of the large particles in the gas, and charge measuring means for measuring charges on the particles in the gas after it has passed the triboelectric charging means. The triboelectric charging means can be a curved section of an air intake duct or the compressor of a turbocharger. The apparatus enables the operation of an engine or other air consuming device to be interrupted when the concentration of large particles in the incoming air is sufficient to damage the engine, but avoids unnecessary shutdowns due to the presence of small particles, e.g. smoke particles, which are too small to damage the engine or other device.

Abstract: An electro-inertial precipitator unit for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream passing through a collector tube having a discharge electrode coaxially disposed therein to establish an electrostatic field between the electrode and a downwardly-flowing liquid film on the inner surface of the tube. The gaseous stream is introduced tangentially into an upper inlet section of the tube to impart a swirling motion thereto, the liquid being supplied to an annular inlet slot just below the gas inlet section. Because of the centrifugal force generated by the cyclonic motion, the particles in the gaseous stream are urged to migrate toward the liquid film, this migration being further promoted by the electrostatic force acting on the particles which are charged with ions in the field. To avoid wetting of the inlet section, thereby causing dust to deposit thereon, this inlet section is provided with a hydrophobic surface in the region above the inlet slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrostatic spinning of textile fibers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a twister electrode and a rapid spinning ground electrode, more particularly, a spinning ground electrode having an insulated tip which is tapered and fluted so as to positively drive or rotate the yarn tail extending from the twister electrode.

Abstract: A method for producing printed images includes the steps of exposing a printing device to radiation, developing a photosensitive ink that is contained in the printing device, and transferring the ink to a substrate. The printing device comprises a printing element and the photosensitive ink. The printing element comprises pores having openings at a printing surface of the element, and the ink is disposed within the pores and is restricted from lateral movement within the element.

Abstract: A color facsimile printing device includes a porous printing element with capillary or cup-shaped pores which are filled with a photosensitive ink and prevent lateral migration of the ink in the printing element. The film is preferably flexible and compressible so that, once the ink is exposed and developed, a full color print can be transferred to a substrate when the device is pressed into contact with the substrate. Development of the ink can also take place after the exposed ink has been transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: An electro-inertial precipitator unit for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous stream passing through a collector tube having a discharge electrode coaxially disposed therein to establish an electrostatic field between the electrode and a downwardly-flowing liquid film on the inner surface of the tube. The gaseous stream is introduced tangentially into an upper inlet section of the tube to impart a swirling motion thereto, the liquid being supplied to an annular inlet slot just below the gas inlet section. Because of the centrifugal force generated by the swirling motion, the particles in the gaseous stream are urged to migrate toward the liquid film, this migration being further promoted by the electrostatic force acting on the particles which are charged with ions in the field. To avoid the formation of dust streaks on the inner surface of the tube, which tend to occur with relatively low liquid flow rates, the gaseous stream flowing therethrough is pulsed.

Abstract: Apparatus 30 for detecting the presence of more than a negligible concentration of dust or other particles in a moving stream of air or other gas (31), comprising first (1) and second (2) electrically conductive members spaced apart in a first region (A') of the stream (31), means (32) for providing thereto electrical potentials sufficiently different to provide a potential gradient of at least about 30 kilovolts per centimeter in a limited region adjacent to the surface of one of the conductive members (1 or 2), to provide a corona and thus to produce ions that charge a substantial proportion of any particles in the gas (31) passing through the first region (A'); and passive means (33) in a second region (B") of the stream (31) that is downstream from the first region (A'), for detecting the presence of a detectable concentration of charged particles in the gas (31) while present in the second region (B").

Abstract: An engine air cleaner comprising a flow tube approximately one and one half nch in diameter for conveying dust-laden air at a rate of approximately 40 c.f.m. Swirl means in the mouth of the tube produces outward migration of the dust particles in the air stream; an ionizer wire within the tube produces ions which charge the particles to accelerate the outward migration tendencies, especially of the sub-5-micron particles. Concentrated dust is removed from the peripheral area near the tube wall by a scavenger air flow that is approximately 10% of the total flow. The tube wall may be kept relatively clean by means of a special dielectric layer on the tube inner surface.