Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing photocatalytic coated ceramic granules. The method involves providing a coatable composition containing an inorganic binder and a variety of photocatalytic particles, such as TiO2, ZnO, Ti(OH)4, doped derivatives, or combinations thereof. These photocatalytic particles have a surface area per weight of no more than 15 m2/g. The coatable composition is then applied to uncoated base ceramic granules, resulting in intermediate coated granules. Finally, the intermediate coated granules are heated at a temperature of at least 700° C., leading to the formation of photocatalytic coated ceramic granules. These granules exhibit a Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value of at least 0.7. This method offers an efficient and effective way to produce ceramic granules with enhanced photocatalytic properties.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory storage system has a vertical stack of storage modules. Each storage module has first and second conveyor segments that carry storage containers along a longitudinal direction between first and second modules ends, and third and fourth conveyor segments that carry the containers between the first and second conveyor segments at the first and second module ends, respectively. The conveyor segments define a movement path having a closed shape, and the storage module translates the containers around the movement path until a desired one of the containers is presented at one of the first and second module ends. The system also has a multi-directional elevator having a platform. The elevator moves the platform over the vertical stack along at least one of the longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and lowers the platform into an interior of the vertical stack.

Abstract: A thermally efficient laser head including a laser housing, a heat exchanger disposed so as to be associated with the laser housing, wherein the combination of the laser housing and the heat exchanger includes a structurally neutral axis and a thermal force centroid axis, wherein the centroid axis and the neutral axis are disposed within different planes and a thermal tuning element, wherein the thermal tuning element is disposed relative to the heat exchanger and the laser housing so as to cause the centroid axis and the neutral axis to be disposed within coincidental planes. A laser assembly including a laser head having a longitudinal axis, wherein the laser head includes a laser housing and a heat exchanger, wherein the laser housing is thermally associated with the heat exchanger and a support structure, wherein the support structure is unbendingly associated with the laser assembly so as to allow the laser head to expand along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention is a more efficient method for manufacturing shaped holes, which include a diffuser section and a cylindrical meter section. Unlike electro-discharge machining (EDM), which is the current method for manufacturing shaped holes, the method of the present invention laser drills the diffuser section followed by the cylindrical meter section. Laser drilling the cylindrical meter section creates the formation of re-solidified vapor in the diffuser section, which is easily milled. Recognizing that it is much easier to mill re-solidified vapor compared to the parent material, the present invention first creates the diffuser section and allows re-solidified vapor to form therein. Although the re-solidified vapor is thereafter milled, the entire process of the present invention is a more efficient method for producing shaped holes in comparison to EDM.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for producing a hole in a structure utilizing both an unmodulated beam and a modulated beam. The unmodulated beam first breaks through the structure, thereby forming a guide hole, and the modulated beam then produces a reaming effect by increasing the cross section of the hole to the size of the effective diameter of the modulated beam. The modulated beam increases the cross section of the hole because the modulated beam has a higher beam intensity than the unmodulated beam for a given beam radius.

Abstract: A telecommunication system for wideband analog input video signals, data signals, facsimile signals, and the like which comprises a synchronous pixel analog modulator circuit for converting the wideband analog input signals into a multi-bit multi-level discrete code signal, and a transmission gate modulator circuit for modulating the multi-level discrete code signal on a carrier at high speed and within a limited bandwidth.

Abstract: A display model resembling a vehicle that has been sectioned longitudinally by a verticle plane. The display model being constructed of a plastic or other material suitable for moulding, incorporates a simulated vehicle interior portion incorporated into the baseplate. Simulated seat and steering wheel and other interior components are also included within the display models interior. In addition, the display model may also include functional features, such as, an opening hood and door and illuminable lights.

Abstract: A system for the transmission and reception of wide-band real time multi-channel signals for video, audio, facsimile and/or data information, over a single or multiple satellite transponder, or over a carrier of available bandwidth for program distribution using single sideband suppressed carrier amplitude modulation which requires, for example, only 6 MHz of radio frequency bandwidth to transmit a full NTSC color television channel and which permits the use of small apertured dishes and simple conversion for the consumer's television receiver, for a nationwide signal distribution or, wherever television reception is wanted, at an economical cost.

Abstract: The onset of electric discharge instability in rare-gas monofluoride lasers pumped by electron beam sustained electric discharges (e.g., KrF*) is delayed by employing a laser gas mixture (such as 0.95 Ar, 0.05 Kr, and 0.005 F.sub.2) which includes a small amount of a halogen compound (NF.sub.3) having a rate coefficient for electron dissociative attachment which is much larger than that for fluorine (such as 0.0005 NF.sub.3). The addition of nitrogen trifluoride to the gas mixture modifies the halogen kinetics in a manner to reduce the effect that consumption of the fluorine fuel has on the growth of secondary electrons, and therefore the occurrence of instability in the discharge. The rare-gas metastable quenching coefficient for the nitrogen trifluoride is sufficiently small (on the order of six times smaller than that of the fluorine) so that the small amount of nitrogen trifluoride utilized to stabilize the discharge exerts little or no influence on the other laser processes.

Abstract: The onset of electric discharge instability in electron beam enhanced electric discharge lasers employing halides, such as rare-gas monohalides (e.g., KrF*) and mercury vapor halide (e.g., HgBr*), is delayed by limiting the production of secondary electrons during laser pulse generation, to account for critical loss of halogen or halide fuel. Secondary electron production is controlled, in order to extend the pulse duration before the onset of discharge instability, by temporal tailoring of the primary electron concentration in the electric discharge region across the temporal expanse of possible laser action; the population of primary electrons can be temporally restrained by temporal decrease of the current density of the electron gun output, as a function, for instance, of gun driving voltage, or by temporal defocusing of the electron beam so as to provide reduced densities within the electric discharge region.

Abstract: The control line exiting coupling provides radial penetration of a control line through a tubing hanger wall, with a back seat for sealing should internal pressure create a packing leak on the penetrator. The back seat further prevents withdrawal of the device through the packing and provides for withdrawing the control line tubing so the hanger may be removed from the wellhead without shearing off the control line tubing.

Abstract: An optically pumped laser system having a configuration capable of efficiently coupling pumping radiation with a gain medium to provide an outlet beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet and visible spectrum is disclosed. A gain medium including halide, rare and noble gas elements is contained within a cell at total pressures from four to thirty atmospheres. The gain medium is ionized by a spark source within the cell and interacted with optical pumping radiation to provide a diffuse electrical discharge. An optical resonator having the discharge disposed therein efficiently extracts energy from the gain medium to provide an output beam having a wavelength in the visible spectrum when the total pressure of the gain medium is high, typically greater than nine atmospheres and a wavelength in the ultraviolet spectrum when the pressure is moderate, typically less than five atmospheres.