Abstract: The present invention concerns a cement additive containing copolymers comprising one or more constitutional units represented by formula A: (A) R1 is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 9 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 9 carbon atoms; T is alkylene (including straight-chain and branched alkylene) having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or arylene having 6 to 9 carbon atoms; n is 0 or 1; S1 and S2 are, independently of one another, —OCkH2k— or —OCH2CHR3—, with the proviso that k is 2 or 3, R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 9 carbon atoms; and 6<_m1+m2<_25.

Abstract: A silane-terminated polyurethane composition is the reaction product of a silane-terminated polyurethane prepolymer component, a silane-terminated monomeric diisocyanate, and optionally at least one multifunctional trisilane or tetrasilane component. A method for making a composition includes (a) providing a silane-terminated polyurethane prepolymer component, a silane-terminated monomeric diisocyanate component, and optionally at least one multifunctional trisilane or tetrasilane component, and (b) combining the prepolymer component, monomeric component, and optional multifunctional silane component to form a silane-terminated polyurethane reaction product with a tensile strength of about 4 MPa or greater and an elongation of about 200% or greater.

Abstract: A temperature resistant vitreous inorganic fiber having a use temperature of up to at least 1000° C., or greater, having after service mechanical integrity, is non-durable (soluble) in physiological fluids, and is produced from a melt containing silica, magnesia, a lanthanide series element-containing compound, and optionally zirconia.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant vitreous inorganic fiber having a use temperature of up to at least 1000° C., or greater, having after service mechanical integrity, is non-durable (soluble) in physiological fluids, and is produced from a melt containing silica, magnesia, calcia, a lanthanide series element-containing compound, and optionally zirconia.

Abstract: Ester compounds of the formula I-a wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X?, wherein X is an inorganic anion, wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, wherein R5 is selected from H, and a linear saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C6-C14, and wherein R2 and R5 together have a total of 7 to 15 carbon atoms; that are useful as antibacterial or antifungal compounds in consumer products.

Abstract: A handle device is adapted to be mounted to one end of a shaft and is adapted to accommodate a power supply unit therein. The handle device includes a handle unit adapted for accommodating the power supply unit, a coupling unit, and a lighting unit. The coupling unit is connected to one end of the handle unit, and includes a shaft clamping member adapted for clamping removably the end of the shaft so as to position the shaft on the handle unit. The lighting unit includes a lamp disposed at an opposite end of the handle unit and adapted to be connected electrically to the power supply unit accommodated in the handle unit, and a direction-adjustable connector interconnecting the lamp and the opposite end of the handle unit such that an illuminating direction of the lamp is adjustable relative to the handle unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating, fly ash having an unacceptably high concentration of carbon, with ozone produced in situ by corona discharge. This method will allow high carbon-content fly ash to be used with air entrainment agents as an additive to cement. The corona discharge can be produced in the exhaust pipe with a venturi of various combustion systems. The device of this invention can be used in conjunction with a triboelectric carbon-fly ash separation system or in a conventional combustion system. The corona discharge is produced off of sharp-tipped metal devices. A venturi is used in the exhaust pipe in the exhaust pipe in conjunction with the sharp-tipped metal devices.

Abstract: A device for generating a motive force includes a tubular housing, a driving member, and a magnetic unit. The driving member is movably disposed in the tubular housing and includes a magnet. The magnetic unit includes first and second magnets, each of which covers a respective one of first and second open ends of the tubular housing. The construction as such permits alternate reversal of a polarity of a magnetic field of the magnet of the driving member to cause reciprocating movement of the driving member in the tubular housing.

Abstract: Cooling compounds are provided having the formula: wherein, m is 0 or 1, Y and Z are selected independently from the group consisting of H, OH, C1-C4 straight or branched alkyl, and a C1-C4 straight or branched alkoxy, X is (CH2)n—R, where n is 0 or 1 and R is a group with non-bonding electrons, with the provisos that: (a) when Y and Z are H, X is not F, OH, MeO or NO2 in the 4-position and is not OH in the 2 or 6-position (b) when Y or Z is H then X, Y and Z are such that (i) the groups in the 3- and 4-positions are not both OMe, (ii) the groups in the 4- and 5-positions are not both OMe, (iii) the groups in 3- and 5-positions are not OMe if the group in the 4-position is OH, and (iv) the groups in the 3- and 5-positions are not OH if the group in the 4-position is methyl.

Abstract: A backup thermal insulation plate includes a colloidal inorganic oxide-impregnated, pressed and dried high-temperature-resistant inorganic-fiber blanket or board, the plate having a use temperature up to at least about 1000° C. and maintaining mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, the plate having a density greater than or equal to about 500 kg/m3, and a compression resistance of at least about 50 kgf/cm2.

Abstract: A gas separation apparatus using electrostatic precipitators and mechanical rappers is enhanced by the addition of an opposite polarity refreshing power supply and a switching arrangement. The switching components selectively disconnect the primary power supply and connect the refreshing power supply to the electrostatic precipitator, causing an electrical impulse in the precipitator sufficient to dislodge precipitate from the collector plates. In one embodiment, an RC filter is further provided to control the impulse and reduce the burden that would otherwise be placed upon the refreshing power supply. In a second embodiment, a pair of SCR strings serve as the switches. Cleaning power is delivered from a capacitor through one of the SCR strings using a resonant circuit, the resonance which causes the SCR string to commutate off after the impulse has been delivered.

Abstract: A universal hybrid solid-state switchgear for power transmission or distribution systems incorporates a fast mechanical switch and solid-state power electronics switching circuits to provide circuit breaker and fault current limiting applications.

Abstract: An expansion joint system which is provided to accommodate forces applied to highway construction during normal changes in ambient conditions, and which is also designed to withstand seismic forces and vehicular forces, which may be applied in transverse and longitudinal directions. The system includes spaced-apart transverse vehicle load bearing members which are placed in a gap defined between adjacent sections of highway construction, longitudinally extending support members positioned beneath the load bearing members, means embedded within the adjacent roadway sections that control longitudinal, transverse and vertical movement, and a mechanism for controlling the spacing between the transverse load bearing beams. Preferably, this mechanism maintains a substantially equal distance between the transverse load bearing beam members.

Abstract: Malodour formation reducing compounds alpha-N-(3-Methyl-5-phenylpentanoxycarbonyl)-L-glutamine, alpha-N-(2-Methyl-5-phenylpentanoxycarbonyl)-L-glutamine, and alpha-N-(2,4-Dimethyl-4-phenylbutanoxycarbonyl)-L-glutamine, and their salts, compositions comprising such compounds, including cosmetic products, personal care products, and deodorant products, and methods forming such products and their use. The compounds are useful to reduce the formation of human malodour resulting from bacterial degradation of compounds naturally present in sweat, in particular axilliary malodour.

Abstract: A portable communication device and learning tool for use by speech impaired individuals or monolinguistic individuals is provided by the present invention. The device is foldable for convenient carrying and storage. A method of using the communication device and learning tool is also provided.

Abstract: A flue gas purification system comprising in the flue gas stream an electrostatic precipitator, mercury sorbent injection and a two-stage electrostatic separator, and wherein the mercury sorbent injection is positioned between the electrostatic precipitator and the two-stage electrostatic separator.

Abstract: A liquid accelerator composition for sprayed concrete, comprising aluminium sulphate, amorphous aluminium hydroxide, alkanolamine and an organic dibasic acid anhydride. The compositions allow the attainment of high early compressive strength, and they can be tailored to give good performance with a wide variety of cement types.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a compound of formula I: comprising the step of reacting a moiety of formula II: with a moiety of formula III: in compressed carbon dioxide in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and a base, wherein L is a labile leaving group; RN1 is optionally substituted C5-20 aryl; RN2 is selected from optionally substituted C5-20aryl, optionally substituted C3-20 heterocyclyl, optionally substituted C3-7 alkyl, and optionally substituted sulfonyl; RN3 is selected from H and optionally substituted C1-7 alkyl, C3-20 heterocyclyl and C5-20 aryl; or RN2 and RN3 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form optionally substituted nitrogen-containing C3-20 heterocylyl or C5-20 heteroaryl; and R1 R2 and R3 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-7 alkyl, C5-20 aryl, C3-20 heterocyclyl, hydroxy, halo, amino and C1-7 alkoxy, or two of R1, R2 and R3, together with the silicon atom to which they are attached, may form a silicon containing C5-7 heterocyclyl group.

Abstract: A measurement device provides coordinates for a specified location and position on the exterior surface of a vessel, including a base adapted to contact the exterior surface of the vessel; a rail extending upwardly from the base, the rail including a measurement scale; a head slidably supported by the rail; the head including a clamping mechanism used to releasably secure the head to the rail; and a laser carried by the head for projecting an image on the exterior surface of the vessel. The device quickly measures both the radial position and the angular position of an indicated location relative to the axis of the nozzle, and the skew of a transducer probe which provided the indicated location.

Abstract: A process reduces SOx emissions in a flue gas stream by adding a wet collector plate section to an existing electrostatic precipitator (ESP) or by converting the last field of an existing ESP to wet operation. To achieve the conversion, the last field or fields of an existing dry ESP are removed and replaced with components made from materials suitable for operation in a wet environment. After the ESP contains wet operation, ammonia is added to the flue gas stream while it is progressing through the collection plates in the ESP.