Abstract: A housing for mounting on a water dispenser which includes a compartment to extend over water dispensing spigots on the dispenser. The compartment has an aperture in its top in which presser bars are positioned. The presser bars are pivotally supported by the housing and overlie the spigots to actuate them in a manner to reduce wear on and corresponding leakage of their valves. The presser bars have large areas of contact to enable them to be depressed by persons of reduced finger strength by forming a leverage system which reduces the actuating force necessary to operate the spigots.

Abstract: This invention relates to a re-inking device for multi-pass fabric ribbons or tapes wound on a spool. The device is for a fabric ribbon wound on a first spool, with means to mount the first spool to one side of a base and means to mount a second spool to the same side of the base at a position spaced from the first spool, means to connect the ribbon free end to the second spool to provide an unsupported ribbon length extending between the first and second spools, an ink reservoir mounted on the base and engageable by at least part of the unsupported ribbon length, and means to rotate the second spool relative to the base to effect winding of the ribbon from the first spool onto the second spool with concurrent ink transfer from the reservoir onto the ribbon. The invention also relates to a method of using the device for re-inking a fabric ribbon.

Abstract: A regenerative adsorbent heat pump process and system is provided which can regenerate a high percentage of the sensible heat of the system and at least a portion of the heat of adsorption. A series of at least four compressors containing an adsorbent is provided. A large amount of heat is transferred from compressor to compressor so that heat is regenerated. The process and system are useful for air conditioning rooms, providing room heat in the winter or for hot water heating throughout the year, and, in general, for pumping heat from a low temperature to a higher temperature.

Abstract: A formulation for forming a low surface-energy surface on a substrate having (i) a fluoroalkyl silane having a low surface energy part, (ii) a liquid crystal silane operable for enhancing the orientation of the molecules of the fluoroalkyl silane and for crosslinking with the fluoroalkyl silane, and, (iii) a transport medium for applying the fluoroalkyl silane and the liquid crystal silane to the surface of a substrate. In one embodiment the formulation can includes a crosslinking agent for crosslinking the fluoroalkyl silane. In another embodiment the formulation has a condensation catalyst for enhancing chemical bonding of the fluoroalkyl silane to the substrate. The transport medium can be an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol.

Abstract: A lightweight, high strength wheel having good aerodynamics both head-on and laterally is provided by this invention. The head-on aerodynamics of the wheel is as good or better than disk wheels of same size and weight while having adequate lateral, radial and torsional stiffness. There is also provided by this invention a method of producing a lightweight, high strength composite wheel. In one embodiment of this invention the composite structure comprises high strength fibers such as aromatic polyamide or carbon fibers or the like. In another embodiment the composite structure is hollow to reduce the weight of the wheel.

Abstract: Carbon molecular sieves modified by the incorporation of finely divided elemental copper useful for the selective sorption of oxygen at elevated temperatures. The carbon molecular sieves can be regenerated by reduction with hydrogen. The copper modified carbon molecular sieves are prepared by pyrolysis of a mixture of a copper-containing material and polyfurfuryl alcohol to form a sorbent precursor. The sorbent precursors are then heated and reduced to produce copper modified carbon molecular sieves. The copper modified carbon molecular sieves are useful for sorption of all concentrations of oxygen at temperatures up to about 200.degree. C. They are also useful for removal of trace amount of oxygen from gases at temperatures up to about 600.degree. C.

Abstract: A solid state electrolyte cells apparatus and method of producing is disclosed. The apparatus can be used for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing feedstock or as a fuel cell for reacting fluids. Cells can be stacked so that fluids can be introduced and removed from the apparatus through ceramic distribution members having ports designed for distributing the fluids in parallel flow to and from each cell. The distribution members can also serve as electrodes to membranes or as membrane members between electrodes. The distribution member design does not contain any horizontal internal ports which allows the member to be thin. A method of tape casting in combination with an embossing method allows intricate radial ribs and bosses to be formed on each distribution member. The bosses serve as seals for the ports and allow the distribution members to be made without any horizontal internal ports.

Abstract: A filter apparatus and distributor plate therefor of the quick-change type which are easily fabricated from plastic material by injection molding are disclosed. The distributor plates which are flangeless can accommodate one, two, three or more canisters. The canisters which are neckless have two prong-like arcuate member with flanges. The prong-like members extend through the distributor plate and the canisters are secured to the distributor plate by locking knobs which have mating flanges for engaging the flanges on the prong-like members. Opposing ports in the canisters and distributor plate are seal by O-rings which are housed on the flat top surface of the canisters. For filter apparatuses having more than one canister, the distributor is preferably made in two parts, namely a main body part and an insert part which are bonded into a single unitary part by sonic welding.

Abstract: An acidizing composition and method for slowly dissolving siliceous material by the slow production of very low concentrations of hydrofluoric acid is provided by this invention. The continual generation of very low concentrations of hydrofluoric acid is accomplished by the hydrolysis of hexafluorotitanate-containing compounds. The acidizing composition is particularly useful and advantageous for the solubilization of siliceous clay in or adjacent the pores of subterranean hydrocarbon formations thereby increasing the permeability of said formations. Because of the very low concentration of hydrofluoric acid in the acidizing composition solubilization of siliceous clay deposits is possible at relatively large distances from the point of injection into the formation, for acidizing formations which are too sensitive for more reactive acidizing compositions, for acidizing formations containing chlorite clays, and/or for acidizing formations having an elevated temperature including formation temperatures of 125.

Abstract: Carbon molecular sieves modified by the incorporation of finely divided elemental copper useful for the selective sorption of oxygen at elevated temperatures. The carbon molecular sieves can be regenerated by reduction with hydrogen. The copper modified carbon molecular sieves are prepared by pyrolysis of a mixture of a copper-containing material and polyfunctional alcohol to form a sorbent precursor. The sorbent precursors are then heated and reduced to produce copper modified carbon molecular sieves. The copper modified carbon molecular sieves are useful for sorption of all concentrations of oxygen at temperatures up to about 200.degree. C. They are also useful for removal of trace amount of oxygen from gases at temperatures up to about 600.degree. C.

Abstract: An activated carbon coated with an intumescent material which will expand at an elevated temperature and render the activated carbon resistant to oxidation. The activation carbon can be in granulated form, including pelletized, and impregnated. The intumescent material is preferably attached to about 10% of the exterior surface of the activated carbon and when exposed to a certain elevated temperature the intumescent material will expand and cover all or almost all of the exterior surface of the activated carbon thereby preventing its burning. The amount of intumescent material is not operable for causing a detrimental reduction in the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon when the coated activated carbon is at temperatures below the certain designed elevated temperature.

Abstract: Many industrial operations generate and release volatile organic compounds. The fumes, frequently mixed with large quantities of air, are collected and sorbed on activated carbon. The spent sorbent is frequently sent to an off-site facility for reactivation since on-site reactivation of the spent sorbent has heretofore been very costly. Shipping of hazardous waste products such as spent sorbents containing sorbed volatile organic compounds on public roads is a growing concern of governmental bodies and regulations requiring on-site handling are anticipated.This invention provides a closed loop system for on-site reactivation of the spent sorbent and incineration of the contaminants. The combustion gases are cleaned simultaneously with the main gas stream containing the volatile organic compuonds so that only cleaned gases are vented to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A unitary layered ceramic structure is disclosed which comprises co-sintered layers. The co-sintered structure comprises a sintered central layer of yttria stabilized zirconia ("YSZ") which is about 8 mole percent yttria and having a density of at least about 95% of theoretical, and sintered outer layers of strontium lanthanum manganite ("LSM") having the approximate molecular composition La.sub.0.8 Sr.sub.0.2 MnO.sub.3, having a density from about 50 to about 60% of theoretical, and having interconnected porosity from about 40 to 50% with an interconnected pore diameter from about one micron to about five microns. The sintered central layer is sandwiched by and bonded and sintered to the outer layers and is essentially free of significant amounts of manganese.A process for making the unitary composition-of-matter is also disclosed which involves tape casting a LSM tape and then on top thereof casting a YSZ tape. The process comprises presintering LSM powder at 1250.degree. F.

Abstract: A shock-free exercising machine, which can be used by the young and elderly, the small and large structured person, and the inexperienced and experienced exerciser for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, that provides a rhythmic fluid motion to the body of the user and particularly to the legs, pelvis and spine which is completely free of shock and impact stress on the joints, bones and muscles in which, at all times, the user remains in an upright standing position. In one embodiment the exercise simulates clinging motion of the user's legs with synchronized push-pull motion of the user's arms.

Abstract: A regenerative adsorbent heat pump process and system is provided which can regenerate a high percentage of the sensible heat of the system and at least a portion of the heat of adsorption. A series of at least four compressors containing an adsorbent is provided. A large amount of heat is transferred from compressor to compressor so that heat is regenerated. The process and system are useful for air conditioning rooms, providing room heat in the winter or for hot water heating throughout the year, and, in general, for pumping heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature.

Abstract: A regenerative hydride heat pump process and system is provided which can regenerate a high percentage of the sensible heat of the system. A series of at least four canisters containing a lower temperature performing hydride and a series of at least four canisters containing a higher temperature performing hydride is provided. Each canister contains a heat conductive passageway through which a heat transfer fluid is circulated so that sensible heat is regenerated. The process and system are useful for air conditioning rooms, providing room heat in the winter or for hot water heating throughout the year, and, in general, for pumping heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature.

Abstract: Quickly erectable, quickly collapsible, self supporting portable structures (100) that are self expandable with little or no effort by the user, which in their fully expanded upstanding configuration are self supporting. The fully expanded upstanding structure can be quickly collapsed into a stack of side members (145) and then coiled into a pack (160) with little effort by the user. The structures can be used as tents, shelters, pavilions and automobile carports. In general the portable structures have a set of at least three side members (102) each having a flexible frame (106), a side panel (108), a pocket (110) joined to the panel by stitching (112). The frame causes the side members to be self expandable. Side members are hinged together by stitching (130). A floor member (104) sewn to the bottom (124) of each side member holds the structure in the upstanding position.