Abstract: A loading sleeve and method for loading pellets into chemical reactor tubes where the length of the loading sleeve is greater than the clearance above the upper tube sheet. The loading sleeve includes a rigid upper sleeve portion and a rigid lower sleeve portion extending downwardly from the upper sleeve portion and means for holding the upper and lower sleeve portions together in both an aligned position, in which their longitudinal axes are aligned, and in an unaligned position, in which the longitudinal axes are at a substantial angle relative to each other. The method includes bending the loading sleeve at a hinge means, inserting the lower portion of the loading sleeve into the chemical reactor tube, then straightening the loading sleeve and inserting the upper sleeve portion into the chemical reactor tube.

Abstract: A wrist replacement prosthesis includes a radial brace member to be secured to the radius bone, an ulna brace member to be secured to the ulna bone, and an articular member to be secured to the carpal bones, the radial brace member and articular member having wide ellipsoidal surfaces, and the ulnar brace member having a ball at one end which is supported by the radial brace member.

Abstract: A method and a device for installing a rigid panel parallel to a flat building structure and between rafters while providing a ventilation gap between the rigid panel and the flat building structure.

Abstract: A tilter system for a window blind permits the slats of the blind to be tilted open or closed in a number of different configurations, including a double pitch configuration, depending on the routing of tilt cables or actuator cords.

Abstract: A method for dismantling pallets includes hanging a pallet on the upstream end of a cantilevered support having a substantially horizontal top surface with the bottom surfaces of the upper deck boards of the pallet resting on the top surface of the cantilevered support and with the stringer boards and lower deck boards extending downwardly from the top surface, advancing the hanging pallet in a downstream direction along the cantilevered support toward a band saw blade which lies directly on the top surface of the cantilevered support and defines a cutting plane aligned with the top surface of the cantilevered support, thereby automatically aligning the band saw blade with the pallet joints between the upper deck boards and the stringer boards; and advancing the pallet past the band saw blade to separate the upper deck boards from the stringer boards at the pallet joints.

Abstract: A spiral wound filter is formed which decreases the cross-sectional area over which the feed fluid flows in order to provide sufficient flow rates across the membrane with less energy consumption, and one embodiment includes a housing that is sealed against substantially the entire outer surface of the filter element.

Abstract: A modular blind transport system for a window blind application. The complete system may be assembled from a relatively small number of individual modules to obtain working systems for a very wide range of applications, including especially a category of counterbalanced blinds wherein a relatively small external input force may be used to raise or lower the blind, and/or to open or close the blind.

Abstract: A shutter for covering for architectural openings having non-conventional geometries. The shutter may be used for covering a wide variety of shapes of openings, including arched, curved, circular, oval, triangular, hexagonal, square and rectangular geometries, as well as any combination of these geometries. A plurality of frame blocks form a frame of the shutter, each frame block having front and rear faces; a top surface; an outer surface; a vertical inner surface, and a horizontal bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of a first block of the plurality of frame blocks rests on the top surface of a next lower second block of the plurality of frame blocks and extends inwardly beyond the vertical inner surface of the second block to define a cantilevered portion.

Abstract: A device and method for aligning a carrier roll to a riding ring on a rotating piece of equipment by checking the degree to which a plane on the face of the carrier roll is parallel to a plane on the face of the riding ring.

Abstract: An arrangement for protecting a waste water line from plugging due to debris includes a pipe with spikes projecting upstream toward the oncoming waste water flow.

Abstract: A device and method for precision loading and gentle loading of particles into vertical chemical reactor tubes in order to help ensure that the particles are not damaged while being loaded to the desired elevation.

Abstract: A bearing for use in a particulate-laden environment uses the particles as a lubricant between the opposed bearing surfaces, which are coated with a tungsten carbide coating that is harder than the particles.

Abstract: A cooling system for a dental porcelain furnace speeds up the cycle time for the furnace.

Abstract: Provided are nanocrystal silicon layer structures formed using a plasma deposition technique, methods of forming the same, nonvolatile memory devices including the nanocrystal silicon layer structures, and methods of fabricating the nonvolatile memory devices. A method of forming a nanocrystal silicon layer structure includes forming a buffer layer on a substrate and forming a nanocrystal silicon layer on the buffer layer by a plasma deposition technique using silicon (Si)-containing gas and hydrogen (H2)-containing gas. In this method, the nanocrystal silicon layer can be directly deposited on a glass substrate using plasma vapor deposition without performing a post-processing process so that the fabrication of a nonvolatile memory device can be simplified, thereby reducing fabrication cost.

Abstract: A metal pole is pre-stressed and filled with concrete. The metal pole includes shear transfer connectors projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the metal pole.

Abstract: A device and method for temporarily plugging and visually identifying the condition of tubes.

Abstract: A device and method for transporting and handling catalyst for a chemical reactor.

Abstract: A total wrist and distal radioulnar joint replacement prosthesis includes a radial brace member to be secured to the radius bone, an ulna brace member to be secured to the ulna bone, and an articular member to be secured to the carpal bones. The articular member is slidably received in a socket in the radial brace member and is supported by the ulna bone.

Abstract: A proximal radioulnar joint (lateral elbow) prosthesis includes an ulnar brace member to be secured to the outer surface of the ulna bone. The ulnar brace member defines a bearing surface for supporting the radius. The prosthesis may also include a radial brace member which cooperates with the ulnar brace member.

Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of forming the same and a flat panel display device having the same are disclosed.