Abstract: A self-standing foldable composite container apparatus comprises, preferably, a vertical cuboid body, namely having the shape of a square prism, rectangular prism, or cube. The container apparatus may be made from one or a plurality of layers of woven polymeric material, further having plastic inserts therein to maintain the shape thereof, reinforce the sides thereof, and further allow the containers to self-stand. The top and bottom of the container apparatus may comprise covers that may be relatively flat, the top cover having a flap openable by one or more zippers and having at least a pair of lifting loops for lifting the same with a forklift or other like lifting mechanism. Methods of using the same are further provided.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having an anode cup, a gasket, and a cathode can. The anode cup has a ratio of an upper diameter to a lower diameter greater than about 0.86 and a ratio of cup height at the upper diameter to cup height at the lower diameter of not greater than about 2.19. The external cup diameter exceeds an internal cup diameter to prevent nesting of anode cups during the assembly process. The cell has a ratio of the total height to the can height of greater than 1.35 and preferably a difference between the total height and can height of more than 0.04 inch.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having an anode cup, a gasket, and a cathode can. The anode cup has a ratio of an upper diameter to a lower diameter greater than about 0.86 and a ratio of cup height at the upper diameter to cup height at the lower diameter of not greater than about 2.19. The external cup diameter exceeds an internal cup diameter to prevent nesting of anode cups during the assembly process. The cell has a ratio of the total height to the can height of greater than 1.35 and preferably a difference between the total height and can height of more than 0.04 inch.

Abstract: A miniature galvanic cell employing a cell housing comprising an indented cup, such as a beaded cup, and can wherein the indented area is disposed at the vicinity of the open end of the cup so that effectively the majority of the cross-section thickness of the vertical portion of the cell is attributed to the thickness of the wall of the cup so that maximum internal volume of the cell is reserved for the active components. A process for producing the novel housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A current collector for use in a battery wherein the current collector is coaxial with the battery axis and is fabricated with a plurality of pairs of layers of electrically conducting material with alternate layers having different conductivities. An anisotropic resistivity structure is thus formed having a greater resistance in the axial direction than in a radial direction relative to the axis so as to provide for a more uniform current distribution.

Abstract: An intensity stabilized laser including a gain cavity containing a gain medium; and an absorbing cavity containing a nonlinear absorbing medium, wherein the absorbing cavity is located with respect to the gain cavity and the characteristics of the nonlinear absorbing medium are selected so as to provide negative feedback from the absorbing cavity to the gain cavity during operation of the laser to thereby control the gain of the gain cavity.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a lithium alloy, metal sulfide cell tape casts slurried alloy powders in an organic solvent containing a dissolved thermoplastic organic binder onto casting surfaces. The organic solvent is then evaporated to produce a flexible tape removable adhering to the casting surface. The tape is densified to increase its green strength and then peeled from the casting surface. The tape is laminated with a separator containing a lithium salt electrolyte and a metal sulfide electrode to form a green cell. The binder is evaporated from the green cell at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the lithium salt electrolyte. Lithium alloy, metal sulfide and separator powders may be tape cast.

Abstract: A system of generating a spectral phonocardiogram which summarizes time-dependent changes in the heart sounds throughout the heart cycle. The system is based on the projection of spectral surfaces of the Fourier transform of heart sounds as a function of time and is a useful diagnostic tool both for a cardiologist and a general practitioner. Permanent copies of the spectral phonocardiograms can provide useful records for monitoring the development of heart disease in a given individual. The system provides a useful means for rapid screening of large groups of people for heart disease by non-specialists in cardiology. A variant of the system provides automated computer diagnosis of the probable nature of the heart disease.

Abstract: A system of generating a spectral phonocardiogram which summarizes time-dependent changes in the heart sounds throughout the heart cycle. The system is based on the projection of spectral surfaces of the Fourier transform of heart sounds as a function of time and is a useful diagnostic tool both for a cardiologist and a general practitioner. Permanent copies of the spectral phonocardiograms can provide useful records for monitoring the development of heart disease in a given individual. The system provides a useful means for rapid screening of large groups of people for heart disease by non-specialists in cardiology. A variant of the system provides automated computer diagnosis of the probable nature of the heart disease.

Abstract: A method and device for compensating for partial hearing loss by converting a time domain signal corresponding to a sound into a series of digital component values in the frequency domain, performing a nonlinear amplitude gain operation in the frequency domain on each of the digital component values and converting the digital component values back into a time domain signal corresponding to the sound with compensation for partial hearing loss.

Abstract: A convenient foot rest device is provided for attachment to motorocycles without requiring any modifcation to or defacing of the motorcycle. The device includes a heavy gauge, tubular support frame which is shaped to conform to the contours of a high performance motorcycle, and to be mounted below the engine of such motorcycle, by means of engine and foot peg mounting bolts. A floorboard is pivotally attached onto the support frame in order to provide a floorboard upon which a rider may rest his feet or to flip up to a storage position.

Abstract: A power module of the type including a plurality of power cells arranged in a longitudinal stacked relation. Each power cell includes a frame, a gas-consuming cathode supported at one end of the frame and a consumable anode supported intermediate the ends of the frame by a flexible diaphragm spanning the frame. The diaphragm divides the frame into a chamber for the introduction thereinto of an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode, and an expansion chamber on the opposite side of the anode for the introduction thereinto of fluid under pressure. The pressurized fluid biases the anode toward the cathode during anode consumption, and the diaphragm provides for longitudinal and angular movement of the anode to accommodate uneven corrosion of the anode. The frames of adjacent cells define a third chamber therebetween for the introduction of consumable gas to the cathode.

Abstract: An aluminium reduction cell includes an anode 10, electrolyte 12, a cathode 14, a potlining 16 which may be of alumina and cathode current collectors embedded therein. The collectors include a section comprising a major proportion by volume of bodies 22, e.g. of titanium diboride or a TiB.sub.2 /Al cermet, joined or surrounded by aluminium, the section being so positioned that the aluminium is at least partly fluid when the cell is in operation. The bodies, which are preferably close-packed, may be cubic or cuboid or in the form of sheets or thin slabs arranged with their major faces parallel to one another and to the axis of the collector section. The collectors show good electrical conductivity together with satisfactory resistance to magnetic stirring and impact and transverse forces.

Abstract: A gas-diffusion electrode cell having an electrolyte feed/withdrawal means integral to a frame for the electrode. The integral feed means for electrolyte feed/withdrawal allows a reduced spacing between the gas-diffusion electrode and a separator in the cell, resulting in a lower operational voltage for electrolysis operation.