Abstract: A system is disclosed which incorporates low pressure drop contaminant removal from gas phases or streams, which advantageously can be used to enhance efficiency, improve humidity characteristics, and reduce capital cost of air handing systems such as HVAC systems and the like. Placement of the low pressure drop contaminant removal mechanism for enhancing effectiveness of same is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A method of controlling and operating a fluid dispensing apparatus is provided which modifies a tool speed signal from a robot and generates a corrected signal to a dispenser nozzle flow controller to compensate for non-linear flow characteristics of fluids, such as non-Newtonian adhesive fluids, to maintain uniform bead size as the tool speed varies. The corrected tool speed signal is generated by computing the ideal flow for the tool speed, comparing the computed flow with actual flow data stored in memory using linear interpolation of data between the stored values, and generating a control signal modified in accordance with the comparison. The stored data is acquired by operation of the apparatus in a calibration mode wherein a series of standard signals is sent to the fluid controller while the actual flow at each signal level is measured and stored in a table. The method corrects for non-linear flow phenomena such as that known as the shear-thinning effect that is flow rate dependent.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensor to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit operates the handling device to take milking apparatus for a teat of the animal from the store in the carrier to a specific teat with the carrier moved to a sideways offset at a selected angle to the device and the teat sensor in range of the teat.

Abstract: Comb-shaped polymers, comprised of hydrophilic backbones and dye-containi hydrophobic side chains are fabricated into multilayered, polarized, noncentrosymmetric, thin films by means of Langmuir-Blodgett processing techniques. These films exhibit harmonic, generated by shining a laser through the film, increases quadratically with the number of layers of polymeric dye in the film.

Abstract: Comb-shaped polymers, comprised of hydrophilic backbones and dye-containi hydrophobic side chains are synthesized for use in multilayered, noncentrosymmetric, thin films by means of Langmuir-Blodgett processing techniques. The second harmonic signal generation exhibited by these films increases quadratically with the number of layers of polymeric dye in the film.

Abstract: A method for depositing liquid material onto a workpiece in the form of a deposit having a desired conformation wherein the material is discharged under pressure from the nozzle of a dispensing gun which can be manipulated by a robot to lay the deposit according to a programmed pattern on the workpiece. One or more gas jets are directed toward the material after the material is discharged from the nozzle to impart a desired conformation to the material deposited on the workpiece. The flow rate of the gas jets is controlled in accordance with the liquid flow rate to maintain substantial uniformity of the conformation of the deposit. The flow rate of the gas jets may also be controlled with reference to a tool speed signal which varies according to the relative speed between the nozzle and the workpiece as well as an auxiliary signal the latter of which can be used to selectively alter the conformation of the deposit.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus having a controller which operates to modify a tool speed signal from a robot and to generate a corrected signal to the dispenser nozzle flow controller which compensates for non-linear flow characteristics of fluids, such as non-Newtonian adhesive fluids, to maintain uniform bead size as the tool speed varies. The corrected tool speed signal is generated by computing the ideal flow for the tool speed signaled, comparing the computed flow with actual flow data stored in a memory using linear interpolation of data between the stored values, and generating a control signal modified in accordance with the comparison. The stored data is acquired by operation in a calibration mode wherein a series of standard signals is sent to the fluid controller while the actual flow at each signal level is measured and stored in a table. The method of operation corrects non-linear flow phenomena such as the shear-thinning effect.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing liquid material onto a workpiece in the form of a deposit having a desired conformation wherein the material is discharged under pressure from the nozzle of a dispensing gun which can be manipulated by a robot to lay the deposit according to a programmed pattern on the workpiece. One or more gas jets is directed toward the material after the material is discharged from the nozzle to impart a desired conformation to the material deposited on the workpiece. The flow rate of the gas jets is controlled in accordance with the liquid flow rate to maintain substantial uniformity of the conformation of the deposit. The flow rate of the gas jets may also be controlled with reference to a toolspeed signal which varies according to the relative speed between the nozzle and the workpiece as well as an auxiliary signal the latter of which can be used to selectively alter the conformation of the deposit.

Abstract: A projectile having a streamline assembly which includes a frusto-conical saddle secured to the boattail area of the projectile bullet, a carrying cylinder having one end secured to the saddle, with multiple, concentrically oriented, tapered, collapsible rings normally located inside the opposite end of the carrying cylinder and biased against a pressure disk fitted against the opposite end of the carrying cylinder, wherein firing of the projectile causes the pressure disk to tear away from the carrying cylinder and deploy the collapsible rings outwardly of the carrying cylinder and behind the bullet in a "beehive" configuration, to reduce air resistance as the projectile moves through the atmosphere. In a preferred embodiment the pressure disk is pressed against the carrying cylinder by means of a brass screw, the threads of which engage an aperture in the saddle and are stripped from the brass screw to release the disk when the projectile is fired.

Abstract: An air regulator system using air-piloted valves for controlling a plurality of different air flows in a powder spray system. A control regulator is used to set the flow rates of a plurality of flow regulators, each of which is associated with a particular air flow in the powder spray system.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for centering and mounting a magnetic recording disc on a disc drive and includes on the recording disc a deflectable member radially inward of the recording surfaces, to which member is attached a generally spherically curved centering member which is received into a hollow portion of the disc drive spindle, and positioned radially between the disc recording surface and the deflectable portion of the deflectable member is a rigid hub portion for reception and driving engagement with the disc drive spindle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for make up of a hemodialysis solution and supply of same to an artificial kidney; the solution optionally contains bicarbonate in any desired amount. The apparatus comprises a recirculation loop which mixes a hemodialysis dialysate concentrate with deaerated water and may include another interconnected recirculation loop adopted to form an aqueous bicarbonate solution. Both recirculation loops mix the concentrates in the recirculation fluid in venturi means operated by continuously controlling the velocity of fluid flowing therethrough to create suction to inject the requisite quantity of concentrate to form the final desired composition in the product hemodialysis solution.