Abstract: The gas control assembly includes a control body threaded to a vessel neck to extend into the vessel containing pressurized fluid and has a fitting in the body bore which in conjunction therewith provides a part of a first fluid passageway from an inlet in the vessel and an outlet to the ambient atmosphere. A manually operated valve and a pressure regulator are provided in the first passageway exterior of the vessel. In one embodiment the control body has a second passageway opening through a relief device to the vessel interior and to the ambient atmosphere while in a second embodiment a relief device is provided exterior of the vessel and opens to the first passageway. A main valve is provided in the first passageway and is moved to an open condition when a solenoid is energized.

Abstract: The internally piloted dome loaded pressure reducing regulator includes a regulator body with a main valve portion and a pilot valve portion. The inlet is fluidly connected to the main valve bore which in turn is connected to the pilot valve bore. Each of the pilot and main valve members are spring urged to a closed position while the pilot valve is moved to an open position by a diaphragm when there is a decrease of pressure in the pilot chamber. A continuous fluid connection is provided from the pilot chamber, including through the main valve member, to a control chamber portion below a piston which is moved under pressure to open the main valve member. The piston has a bleed hole bottom chamber portion to the top control portion which in turn is fluidly connected to the outlet.

Abstract: The inline flow control device includes housing with a tubular portion coaxially aligned with the tubular portion of a fitting threaded to the housing. A piston has a bore extending therethrough with the tubular portions extended thereinto in axial spaced relationship, the fitting tubular portion mounting a valve seat to abut against a piston internal shoulder when the piston has axially moved relative to the tubular portions to a blocking position to block fluid flow through the device. The piston enlarged diametric portion bottom surface is in fluid communication with the piston bore in both of the piston positions but not in fluid communication with the body high pressure inlet when the piston is in its blocking position. A spring resiliently urges the piston in its blocking position. Two embodiments are pressure regulators while the third is a balanced valve.

Abstract: The gas control assembly includes a housing threaded to a vessel neck to extend into the vessel containing pressurized fluid, a fitting threaded into the housing bore and a valve body threaded to the fitting outwardly of the neck with a valve body threaded thereto. The housing and fitting having a first passageway that opens to the ambient atmosphere and to a relief device at the housing inner end to permit fluid exhausting through the first passageway upon the temperature and/or pressure in the vessel exceeding a preselected valve. The housing, fitting and valve body provide a second passageway opening to the vessel interior and an outlet connection. The fitting and housing mount a main valve in the second passageway while a solenoid is mounted to the valve body and when energized, through a rod, operates the main valve to an open condition.

Abstract: A device and method for weighing eggs. The egg weighing apparatus includes a movable stem that supports an egg weighing platform. The stem is attached to a measuring device that is electronically and mechanically driven for precise measurement of an egg. The present invention uses a damper or alternatively, uses a tuned dynamic vibration absorber to yield precise measurement of an egg.

Abstract: The invention concerns improvements in spectrophotometry. Aspects of the invention may be used independently or together to increase the sensitivity of spectrophotometry. One aspect of the invention is a spectrophotometer detection circuit. In this aspect of the invention, currents attributable to reference and sample beams are cancelled in the current mode. The detection circuit produces a first voltage proportional to the difference in currents and a second voltage proportional to one of the reference or sample beams. Both voltages are available to allow simultaneous measurement and analysis. Another aspect of the invention concerns thermal stability. According to the invention, thermal conductivity is established among the housing and optical system components to promote equilibrium. Another preferred embodiment has a unitary solid metal housing with a hollowed portion defined to mount and place optical system components.

Abstract: The internally piloted dome loaded pressure reducing regulator includes a regulator body with a main valve portion and a pilot valve portion. The inlet is fluidly connected to the main valve bore which in turn is connected to the pilot valve bore. Each of the pilot and main valve members are spring urged to a closed position while the pilot valve is moved to an open position by a diaphragm when there is a decrease of pressure in the pilot chamber. A continuous fluid connection is provided from the pilot chamber, including through the main valve member, to a control chamber portion below a piston which is moved under pressure to open the main valve member. The piston has a bleed hole bottom chamber portion to the top control portion which in turn is fluidly connected to the outlet.

Abstract: The valve device includes a valve body and a bonnet with a fitting clamped therebetween and extending within body and bonnet bores. The fitting and valve body have bore portions with a valve stem extended therein and through a valve seat and having opposite end portions of the same diameters and in fluid sealing relationship with the above bore portions axially opposite the valve seat. The body has inlet and outlet passages opening to the fitting and body bores axially opposite the valve seat and axially intermediate the stem end portions. A sensor is connected to the valve stem and is movable against spring action to move the valve stem to its open position. An actuator, for example an electric motor, is mounted to the bonnet and operable for forcing the sensor to move the valve stem to its valve open position.

Abstract: The present technique provides a system and method for quickly accessing, configuring, and controlling computer resources, such as hardware components and software applications of a computing device. A resource control menu is provided with controls, such as links to configuration utilities, for a plurality of resources of the computing device. In operation, a user launches the resource control menu by performing a launching action, such as a single button click. The user then controls the desired resource by selecting one of the controls from the resource control menu.

Abstract: The pressure reducing regulator includes a regulator body with a tubular portion coaxially aligned with the tubular portion of a bonnet threaded to the regulator body. A piston has a bore extending therethrough with the tubular portions extended thereinto in axial spaced relationship, the body tubular portion mounting a valve seat to abut against a piston internal shoulder when the piston has axially moved relative to the tubular portions to a blocking position to block fluid flow through the regulator. The piston enlarged diametric portion bottom surface is in fluid communication with the piston bore in both of the piston positions but not in fluid communication with the body high pressure inlet when the piston is in its blocking position. A spring resiliently retains the piston in its open position when no pressurized fluid is applied to the body inlet.

Abstract: The valve device includes a valve body and a bonnet with a fitting clamped therebetween and extending within body and bonnet bores. The fitting and valve body have bore portions with a valve stem extended therein and through a valve seat and having opposite end portions of the same diameters and in fluid sealing relationship with the above bore portions axially opposite the valve seat. The body has inlet and outlet passages opening to the fitting and body bores axially opposite the valve seat and axially intermediate the stem end portions. A sensor is connected to the valve stem and is movable against spring action to move the valve stem to its open position. An actuator, for example an electric motor, is mounted to the bonnet and operable for forcing the sensor to move the valve stem to its valve open position.

Abstract: The invention concerns improvements in spectrophotometry. Aspects of the invention may be used independently or together to increase the sensitivity of spectrophotometry. One aspect of the invention is a spectrophotometer detection circuit. In this aspect of the invention, currents attributable to reference and sample beams are cancelled in the current mode. The detection circuit produces a first voltage proportional to the difference in currents and a second voltage proportional to one of the reference or sample beams. Both voltages are available to allow simultaneous measurement and analysis. Another aspect of the invention concerns thermal stability. According to the invention, thermal conductivity is established among the housing and optical system components to promote equilibrium. Another preferred embodiment has a unitary solid metal housing with a hollowed portion defined to mount and place optical system components.

Abstract: The load transducer for measuring forces and/or moments on a rotatable member. In one embodiment, the transducer includes an inner ring member attachable to a wheel hub and an outer ring member attachable to a wheel rim. At least one and, preferably, a plurality of beams unitarily extend between the inner and outer ring members and are circumferentially spaced apart. Each beam is formed of a stem and a perpendicular crossleg. Wells are formed in the exterior surfaces of the stem and the crossleg for mounting a strain gage in a force or moment measurement orientation. Additional strain gages may be mounted on the exterior sidewalls of each stem. The strain gages are inter-connected in a bridge configuration for measuring forces and moments exerted on the wheel. Bores formed in the stem and the crossleg provide a passage for the conductors from each strain gage to an electrical connector mounted between the inner and outer ring members.

Abstract: A slip ring amplifier has a rotor fixedly mountable on a rotatable tubular member and carrying an amplifier mounted in a recess connected to a sensor fixedly mountable on the rotatable member. A stationarily mounted stator is coupled to the rotor by bearings. A slip ring brush block with leaf contacts is mounted in a cavity between the rotor and the stator. End caps are mounted on opposite ends of the rotor and the stator and fixed to one of the rotor and stator. Labyrinth seals are disposed between each end cap and the stator. In one embodiment, an electrolytic fluid fills the cavity between the rotor and stator and surrounds the brush block and leaf contacts. In another embodiment, a dielectric coating is provided on the leaf contacts. Conductors extend from the leaf contacts through the stator to a connector fixedly mounted on the stator.

Abstract: A process for diazotizing an amine comprises the steps of oxidizing nitric oxide in solution with an oxidizing agent to maintain an equilibrium concentration of a diazotizing agent and reacting a primary aromatic amine in situ with said diazotizing agent in said solution.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for cutting and storing sections of body tissue is provided comprising a housing having a handle assembly, an elongated outer tube extending from the handle assembly, and a cutting tube positioned within the outer tube and movable in response to actuation of the handle assembly between a retracted position and a distal position to cut body tissue. The cutting tube has a chamber formed therein for storing the cut tissue sections. An anvil is positioned at a distal end of the outer tube for forcing each cut tissue section proximally into the chamber of the cutting tube as the cutting tube is advanced to cut the body tissue.

Abstract: The present application discloses instruments for use in an endoscopic discetomy procedure which are configured to be disassembled for cleaning and reassembled for subsequent utilization. The preferred embodiments include endoscopic rongeur-style instruments which may be used to remove calcification, to trim away part of a bone and to remove tissue and tissue samples for biopsy purposes.The endoscopic surgical instruments of the present application are provided with a handle mechanism, an elongated endoscopic portion extending from the handle mechanism and a tool mechanism supported at a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The handle mechanism includes a body portion having an upper and a lower body portion, a stationary grip extending from the body portion and a pivotable grip pivotally mounted to body portion. In one embodiment, the pivotable grip is detachably mounted to body portion by a locking member which includes a fastener having a rod and an abutment portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for use during endoscopic discectomy procedures includes an elongated portion defining a generally longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends, a retractor mechanism disposed at the distal end of the elongated portion and having at least two retractor members for engaging and spreading tissue, an articulating mechanism operatively connected to the retractor mechanism for selectively articulating the two retractor members and an actuator mechanism operatively connected to the retractor mechanism for causing relative movement between the two retractor members. The retractor mechanism is preferably releasably mounted to the distal end of the elongated portion and is released by a release mechanism. The apparatus further includes a tissue penetrating member associated with the retractor mechanism and mounted for movement to facilitate mounting of the retractor mechanism to tissue.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant includes lower and upper plate members dimensioned for at least partial insertion within the intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. The lower and upper plate members have contacting surfaces for engaging respective vertebral end faces of the adjacent vertebrae. A linkage mechanism including at least one link member operatively connects the lower and upper plate members. The linkage mechanism actuable to cause relative movement of the lower and upper plate members, wherein upon actuation, the contacting surfaces of the lower and upper plate members engage the vertebral end faces with the lower and upper plate members supporting the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation during healing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for percutaneous accessing body tissue including a tissue piercing element for creating an opening through a body wall. The surgical instrument may include a working member for performing a surgical procedure within the body. Alternatively, the surgical instrument may include an introducer having a stabilizing structure for facilitating the passage of the tissue piercing element and for releasably affixing the surgical instrument to the body tissue surface, thereby securing the surgical instrument relative to the patient's body.