Abstract: Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) act as a dispersing agent to directly exfoliate graphite in an aqueous solution using sonication. The resulting suspension has graphite flakes, each having 2-20 monolayers, a relatively large lateral dimension, and a plurality of CNF decorating its surfaces and edges. The dispersing effect of the CNF allows the graphite-CNF suspension to be stored without degradation until desired use. The graphite-CNF suspension can be used to form various composite structures, such as by spraying, coating, pouring, extruding, or printing the suspension, and then drying the suspension. The resulting composite structures have improved tensile strength and toughness due to hydrogen bond interactions between the CNF and graphite.

Abstract: Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) act as a dispersing agent to directly exfoliate graphite in an aqueous solution using sonication. The resulting suspension has graphite flakes, each having 2-20 monolayers, a relatively large lateral dimension, and a plurality of CNF decorating its surfaces and edges. The dispersing effect of the CNF allows the graphite-CNF suspension to be stored without degradation until desired use. The graphite-CNF suspension can be used to form various composite structures, such as by spraying, coating, pouring, extruding, or printing the suspension, and then drying the suspension. The resulting composite structures have improved tensile strength and toughness due to hydrogen bond interactions between the CNF and graphite.

Abstract: This invention relates to extruders of the type which employ single screws that use chaotic mixing to generate substantially better distributive mixing. Such structures of this type, generally, stretch and fold material lines repeatedly such that interfacial areas between material elements increase exponentially and heat/mass transfers are greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A sample processing system for use with analysis apparatus includes tubular structure that defines a continuous elongated flow chamber. The tubular structure has an inlet port at one end, an outlet port at the other end, and a sample inlet port in communication with the continuous elongated flow chamber between the inlet and outlet ports. A first pump flows diluent at a first rate through the inlet port for flow through the continuous elongated flow chamber, and a second pump flows a liquid mixture from the continuous elongated flow chamber through the outlet port at a rate greater than the first rate. With the sample inlet port submerged in a sample to be analyzed, the sample is aspirated through the sample inlet port into the flowing diluent stream in the continuous elongated flow chamber for dilution and application of the diluted sample mixture to sample analysis apparatus for analysis.

Abstract: A toothbrush sanitizer has a housing containing a centrally located elongated ultraviolet bulb surrounded by cavities for receiving standing toothbrushes. The cavities having one side open to receive ultraviolet light, have highly reflective surfaces to reflect light passing through said open side toward all sides of the toothbrushes, and have bottom contours which make the toothbrushes self-aligning. An electronic circuit lights the ultraviolet bulb with a short on, long off duty cycle. The initial on cycle is longer than the rest of the on cycles and occurs immediately after the cover is closed. A labyrinth seal permits passage of a cooling updraft of air while blocking an escape of ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A back massager is powered through a control unit attached to a back cushion via a cable. The control unit has a jack coupled to a control circuit and through the cable to the cushion. Either an AC adapter or a 12 DC battery adapter may be plugged into the jack. Therefore, the same massager may be used in the home or an automobile (or the equivalent thereof). An air bladder may be pumped up or exhausted to control the firmness of the cushion.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for forwarding a customer order received from a requesting customer line to a vendor data link. For use with a telecommunications switching system, the order entry arrangement includes a customer signal receiver for receiving customer signals from a requesting customer line and a processor for sending the orders received from the receiver to the vendor data link. The processor normally controls the operation of the switching network of the switching system but also sends received customer orders and the identity of the requesting line to a vendor data link in response to a customer entered order entry request code. Optional vendor identification information may be entered by the customer for selecting a desired vendor. Customer identification information may also be entered by the customer for billing and order security purposes. After the order is received, the order entry arrangement returns an order confirmation signal to the requesting line.

Abstract: A fail-safe immersion detector has a reset button which may be operated to return an appliance to operation after an immersion-caused short circuit has disappeared. However, if the short circuit remains, an operation of the reset button has no effect. Therefore, the user cannot defeat the fail-safe detector by the expedient of taping or otherwise holding down the reset button. A rocker switch enables a testing of the immersion detector, to be conducted to either side of the A.C. power line while preventing a short circuit across the line if an effort is made to simultaneously conduct tests to both sides of the line. Two test wires extend from the detector through the power cord to the appliance, where they are joined. The immersion detector operates via one of the two wires. The rocker switch conducts the test via the two test wires in series. Therefore, the rocker switch controlled test verifies the integrity of the one test wire.

Abstract: An electronic temperature control for a cordless ironing apparatus. The temperature of the sole plate of the iron is sensed by a thermistor embedded therein; the thermistor is part of an astable multivibrator circuit, and any change in temperature of the sole plate causes a change in resistance of the thermistor, and a corresponding change in frequency at the output of the multivibrator. This output drives an infrared LED, and the light emitted by the LED in the iron is sensed by a phototransistor in the base, which relays the sensed temperature information to a microprocessor therein which controls the current applied to the heating element accordingly, to maintain the desired temperature of the sole plate.

Abstract: An immersion detector comprises a pair of spring biased circuit breaking contacts for removing power from an appliance. The appliance has a sensing circuit which may become energized if it is dropped into a body of an electrically conductive liquid, such as a sink full of water. An SCR is connected to each side of the line and is triggered by an energization of said sensing circuit so that it is irrelevant which side of the line is hot and which side is at neutral. When either SCR conducts, a solenoid releases the spring bias which causes the circuit breaking contacts to fly apart.

Abstract: A small personal appliance is wholly contained within a unitary housing that is fully supported by its contact blades being plugged into a wall outlet. The housing includes needles for ionizing the ambient atmosphere and a carbon foam pad for collecting the ionized air. A drive circuit generates cyclically recurring pulses having a voltage which is high enough to ionize the air and low enough to preclude a formation of ozone.

Abstract: An adjustable incremental load simulator 200 acts upon a telephone control processor 300 to drive the processor toward and into an overload state. This is accomplished by reducing the number of processing cycles available for system task execution by execution control 360. The simulator 200 pulses an interrupt circuit 350, thereby halting the execution of system tasks for a fixed number of processing cycles. The adjustable incremental load simulator has an adjustment which controls the rate of generation of interrupt signals and thereby controls the rate at which system task execution cycles are made unavailable to the execution control. The performance of the system is monitored via a display 150; thus, the simulated incremental load can be adjusted while system performance is monitored.

Abstract: For use with a telephone system having a communications terminal and serving a plurality of stations, method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a customer-originated call tracing service on a per call basis. Responsive to a call from a calling station to a called station, a memory dedicated to the called station stores the directory number of the calling station. An indicator bit associated with the memory designates the stored directory number as that of a "calling" station. Receiving, for example, a nuisance or obscene call, the customer at the called station enters a predetermined access code after the call to send the designated directory number of the calling station as well as the called station directory number to the communications terminal for subsequent follow up by appropriate personnel. Several calling station directory numbers may be stored in the memory for subsequent display at the called station.

Abstract: An articulated orthotic/prosthetic appliance for supporting an infirm anatomical knee includes joint assemblies which prevents abnormal or injurious knee motion while freely permitting normal or desirable motion. The appliance includes upper and lower support members having associated spaced apart end portions which form parts of the joint assemblies. Each joint includes a generally disc shaped connecting member disposed intermediate associated end portions of upper and lower support members. The end portions are secured to the connecting member for independent pivotal movement about parallel axes. Concealed stops carried by and disposed intermediate the end portions cooperate with the connecting member to limit pivotal movement of the support members relative to each other.

Abstract: A small personal appliance is wholly contained within a unitary housing that is fully supported by its contact blades being plugged into a wall outlet. The housing includes needles for ionizing the ambient atmosphere and a carbon foam pad for collecting the ionized air. A drive circuit generate cyclically recurring pulses having a voltage which is high enough to ionize the air and low enough to preclude a formation of ozone.