Abstract: A cyclone evaporator includes an evaporator body with an evaporation chamber therein. The evaporation chamber preferably includes a thermally conductive sidewall having a generally cylindrical upper portion and a downwardly tapered lower portion. The evaporator body further includes a cover having a vapor outlet opening into the evaporation chamber and an outlet tube. The outlet tube circumscribes the vapor outlet and extends into a lower portion of the evaporation chamber. A liquid precursor passage and a carrier gas passage extend through the evaporator body and open into the evaporation chamber. In one embodiment, the carrier gas passage is positioned to direct carrier gas parallel to liquid precursor flow and intersect the liquid precursor at a liquid precursor passage outlet within the evaporation chamber. In another embodiment, the carrier gas passage is positioned to direct carrier gas across an outlet of liquid precursor passage.

Abstract: A smoke generator apparatus (10) is disclosed which is suitable for use in conducting air flow studies in wind tunnels. The smoke generator apparatus (10) includes a tube assembly (12) which may either be wire-packed or crimped and has fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics which permit the substantially uninterrupted flow of smoke-appearing vapor (82) from the tube outlet (52).

Abstract: A superheated vapor generator and control system includes a vapor generator having an interior vapor generating chamber with peripheral surfaces having a plurality of ridges and grooves, preferably of substantially randomly varying heights and depths and preferably having a plurality of grooves and ridges intersecting the first-mentioned grooves and ridges, the second-mentioned ridges and grooves preferably varying substantially randomly in height and depth. A hand-held control member includes parts for controlling generation of superheated vapor and for directing such vapor to desired objects. A method for fabricating a superheated vapor generator includes machining inner portions of sections of heat conductive material to form grooves and ridges and then welding the parts together to form a closed interior vapor generation chamber.

Abstract: A liquid deposition source delivery system (22) includes a reactant source (50) of a liquid chemical reactant, a first heater (54) positioned adjacent to the reactant source (50) , and a vapor collection system (56) in communication with the reactant source (50) to collect vapor evolved from the reactant source (50). A flow controller (64) has an upstream side (66) in communication with the vapor collection system (56). A line (70) of a vapor distribution system is in communication with the downstream side (68) of the flow controller (64). A second heater (76) is positioned adjacent to the flow controller (64), at least a portion of the vapor collection system (56), and at least a portion of the vapor distribution system, to prevent the vapor from condensing in the lines (70) of the delivery system.

Abstract: Fixed amounts of a liquid source for a chemical vapor deposition process is supplied continuously from a source tank and through a liquid mass flow controller to a three-way valve. Inside the three-way valve, the liquid source is evaporated to generate a source gas by contacting a high-temperature carrier gas which flows therethrough and becomes mixed with the source gas. The gas mixture thus generated is supplied into a process chamber for a chemical vapor deposition process. The carrier gas may be heated by a gas heater before entering the three-way valve. Alternatively, the three-way valve may be enclosed inside a thermostatic container, the carrier gas being heated inside the container.

Abstract: A steam generator has a body (4) of heat conductive material, an electric heating element (6) located within the body (4), an inlet (14) for water to be vaporized, one or more discharge orifices (20) for steam, and one or more elongate convoluted passageways (26) serving to transfer water and/or steam from the water inlet (14) to the one or more steam discharge orifices (20). The steam generator has first and second chambers (8), (22). The first chamber (8) has relatively wide passageways (12) serving to remove substantially any impurities present from, and preheat, the water, to produce steam which contains entrained water droplets, and which is substantially free from impurities. The second chamber (22) has relatively narrow and convoluted passageways (26) to achieve final heating of the steam to convert any entrained water droplets to steam.

Abstract: A device for heating and moistening respiratory gases with a small volume of dead space which is especially suitable for giving artificial respiration to premature and newborn infants and children. This device includes three parts, whereby two parts, largely made of metal, are interconnected in a housing and form a connecting component combined with an active steam-sterilizable moistening and heating device into which a third part, a one-time heating-moistening exchanger insert, is fitted. The upper third of this insert acts as a passive heat-moisture exchanger which premoistens and preheats the dry respiratory gas on inspiration (about 30.degree. C., 100% relative humidity) and the central and lower third of which, supported by the active moistening device and heating with the aid of the active heat-moisture device, finally undertakes the optimum conditioning of the respiratory gas (36-37.degree. C., 100% r.h.).

Abstract: A humidifier provides humidified gases to a patient. The humidifier is very compact, having a gases volume of the order of 60 mls. A microporous water compartment is provided perpendicular to the gases flow to ensure efficient humidification of the gases. Also, a combined temperature probe and heater supply connector is provided which only supplies energy to the heater in the water compartment when the gases temperature sensor is appropriately positioned in the humidifier gases passageway. This reduces the risk of gases at excessively high temperatures being supplies to the patient.

Abstract: A device for heating flowing liquid or gaseous media has a heating element including a PTC resistor arranged between a pair of perforated metallic bodies serving as power supply terminals for the resistor. The heating element is positioned inside a tubular housing defining a flow path for the medium to be heated and made of two mating housing parts, with the heating element extending across the flow path for flow of the medium through the perforations of the metallic bodies to transfer heat to the medium. A bracket on each metallic body fastens the heating element to the housing and is electrically connected to a contact on one end of a power supply cable molded as an integral part of one of the housing parts and terminating at its other end in an electrical plug outlet on the housing part connectable to a battery or electrical network.

Abstract: A method for forming an in-line heater for heating water supplied to a hot water carpet cleaning extractor includes the formation of a spiral flange upon the exterior surface of an elongated cylindrical body having a bore therein to define a heat exchanger. The flanged heat exchanger is inserted into a cylindrical housing having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the spirally flanged heat exchanger by heating the housing to increase the inner diameter thereof sufficiently to allow the spirally flanged heat exchanger to be be received therein. Upon cooling, the housing shrinks into watertight engagement with the spiral flange to define a spiral water floe conduit between the ends of the in-line heater. The first and second ends of the heat exchanger are then welded to the housing. Quick disconnect fittings are threaded into the in-line heater to establish communication with the end of the spiral water conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controllably generating smoke from a simulating smoke-generating fluid. A container holds a supply of simulating smoke-generating fluid. A generally vertically-disposed, hollow, elongated, tubular member having inside walls surmounts the container with a lowermost opening thereof in fluid communication with the container and an uppermost opening thereof capable of being placed in fluid communication with an area into which the smoke is to be introduced. Preferably, gas is moved into the tubular member at a portion thereof near the lowermost end and in a direction generally tangential to a radius of the inside walls such that the gas flows upwardly in a generally spiral-like manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in space environments to control the flow of a propellant to a thruster at a low mass flow rate comprises an insulated body having a cavity therein defining a vaporizing chamber, a porous medium having a low liquid permeability disposed in the chamber, a conduit means for feeding a propellant liquid into the chamber and exhausting a propellant vapor from the vaporizing chamber, and a heating means communicating with the medium within the chamber for controllable heating of the liquid propellant in the chamber creating a variable liquid/vapor transition zone within the medium. The transition zone is responsive to the heating means to control the mass flow rate of propellant through the vaporizing chamber. As the liquid/vapor transition zone is moved upstream by increasing the heater output, and thus increasing the volume of vapor within the porous medium, mass flow through the porous medium is decreased.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controllably generating simulated smoke from a simulated smoke-generating fluid which has a vaporizing chamber with an inlet, an outlet, and walls extending therebetween so as to substantially enclose the chamber and define a chamber cross section which is substantially the same as an annular space between the walls. The chamber has a center line between an inlet wall and an outlet wall such that the center line is declined from the horizontal from the inlet wall to the outlet wall. A lower surface in the chamber is substantially co-extensive with a major portion of inside surfaces of lowermost portions of the walls and terminates at one end thereof near the inlet in a surface terminus of defined width. Smoke fluid is distributed along the terminus so that the smoke fluid is flowable by gravity downwardly across the surface as a thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus for warming and humidifying respiratory gases during artificial respiration includes two passive heat and moisture exchangers and an active warming and humidifying element disposed between them in a housing. The first passive heat and moisture exchanger serves to preheat and prehumidify cold and dry gases to be inhaled. In a further, downstream, active heat and moisture exchanger and the second heat and moisture exchanger, gases are additionally heated and humidified, thus ensuring optimum physiological conditioning of the respiratory gases to a temperature of 36.degree.-37.degree. C. and 100% relative humidity. In an exhalation phase, 70 to 80% of humidity and heat are recovered from the optimally conditioned humid and warmed respiratory gas with the aid of the two integral passive heat and moisture exchangers.

Abstract: A humidifier of small gases passageway volume (of the order of 50 ml gases space) has a heater within a water containing envelope having a microporous wall common to the water space within the envelope and the gases space, the microporous wall being permeable to water vapour but not liquid water and the envelope being reinforced by a support which also directs the flow of gases over the surface of the envelope. The heater is wound as a flat spiral to avoid the effect of gases or water vapour bubbles on heater performance temperature.

Abstract: Steam producing machine with a delivery nozzle, especially for heating beverages and rising foam therein characterized in that it includes a water boiler with relevant sealing lid, to the bottom of which boiler a heating electrical resistance is combined and which is provided at its top with an outlet for the steam intercepted by a manually operated valve to which a delivery nozzle is fixed, which is made up of a first tubular element which, in the outlet part, has a second tubular element coaxially mounted therein having its ends communicating with the atmosphere.