Abstract: A process for extruding a mixture of thermoplastic and ground whole tire waste, in which the mixture is extruded through a die to form an extrudate, with the extrudate subsequently cooled by directing a cooling gas toward the extrudate top, bottom and sides from a multiplicity of gas jets positioned around the periphery of the extrudate. In addition to an extruder, the apparatus includes a multiplicity of gas jets adjacent the extruder, positioned to direct a cooling gas toward the extrudate top, bottom and sides.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable cleaning system for ductwork and a method utilizing the cleaning system. The system includes a sound or air pulse generator for producing infrasound air pulses for short duration and introducing the air pulses into an air conduit which causes the air conduit to resonate or vibrate at a given infrasound frequency. The induced vibration causes contaminants in the ductwork to be entrained in the air pulses and carried with the air pulses to an exit of the air conduit where the air is filtered to remove the contaminants.

Abstract: A hat having elongated support members extending from the exterior of the crown of the hat, for supporting the hat upon the head of the wearer, to prevent the hat from causing any undue adverse affect to the wearer's hair style. An alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a casing having a framing that is either attached to the crown or a brim, which framing may be twisted to collapse the hat into a small compact size and shape. Another alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a layer of material for reducing the ability of the crown of the hat to become wrinkled after the hat is un-collapsed.

Abstract: Non-planar thermoplastic article having a flexible portion suitable for use in an aggressive chemical environment, with the flexible portion is an irradiated thermoplastic consisting of polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene ethyl acrylate, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. Such articles can be made by forming the article and then irradiating, or alternatively by radiating the thermoplastic and then forming the article.

Abstract: A unit for the preparation of fermenting gas by fermenting viscous media with mixing paddles that can be moved continuously back and forth and in the same direction in the tank to mix the medium to be fermented. Alternately, the mixing paddles hang from a rotating roller in the tank and the roller is driven such that the mixing paddles are moved up and down. The unit may be fitted with several mixing paddles arranged in series and in the direction of the mixing effect, i.e., the suspended mixing paddles are arranged above each other in the event of a vertical tank, in which case a joint drive unit is provided for each mixing paddle group, thus moving the mixing paddles simultaneously in such a manner that each individual mixing paddle executes only a limited stroke, but the mixing paddles as a whole achieve a complete mixing of the medium to be fermented in the chamber, in which are installed the mixing paddles. The heat exchange is improved, when a heat exchange wall is installed between the two chambers.

Abstract: A hat having elongated support members extending from the exterior of the crown of the hat, for supporting the hat upon the head of the wearer, to prevent the hat from causing any undue adverse affect to the wearer's hair style. An alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a casing having a framing that is either attached to the crown or a brim, which framing may be twisted to collapse the hat into a small compact size and shape.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for detecting the presence of fecal or ingesta matter contaminants on a poultry or meat item. The poultry or meat is exposed to excitation light of a selected bandwidth(s) and certain bandwidth(s) is(are) measured and compared to a threshold, above which indicates contaminants. Suitable excitation bandwidth and measuring bandwidth are selected such that the ratio of or difference between the resulting sample fluoresence and contamination fluoresence are greater then a certain ratio or difference. If contaminants are present, a controller can generate a signal and/or send the contaminated items to a wash station.

Abstract: Polyvinyl acetate emulsion based adhesives can be made effective for bonding melamine formaldehyde resin treated decorative solid color and print paper to particle board. This polyvinyl acetate emulsion based adhesive is formulated with tackified polyvinyl alcohol, starch, a tackifier and a coupling agent. Stress cracking is substantially eliminated. Additionally, wrinkling and edge and corner peel resulting during the movement of sheets of melamine resin treated paper on the top and bottom surfaces of sheets of particle board through a heating and pressing zone is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly for use in hauling a motorcyle behind a motorcyle which includes a wheel cradle for positioning the front wheel of the motorcyle in front of the hitch. Such arrangement allows for the use of a lighter weight trailer and provides for greater stability as the front wheel is held in-plane with the vehicle during travel.

Abstract: A high temperature, abrasion resistant insulating module is described having a sinuously folded, ceramic blanket with a lath covering three side of the folded blanket. The lath has doubled back portions extending into the folds of the blanket on it hot face. To the lathed front face of the folded blanket is applied a layer of thermally stable, abrasive resistant material which not only serves an as abrasion shield to the brittle fibrous material of the blanket, but only serves to stabilize the module and to reduce fiber dust.

Abstract: Disclosed are polished and planarized diamond films and a method and apparatus for polishing and planarizing diamond films. The method generally includes mechanical polishing of the diamond film against a ceramic surface in the presence of a treating agent of potassium nitrate and a polishing agent of potassium hydroxide. The produced films have an average surface roughness on the order of 0.05 microns, a planarization uniformity within eight percent, and are relatively free of process-induced contaminants.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for producing a tripropylene glycol in which alkylene oxide, water, an acid catalyst and a dipropylene glycol are contacted together under conditions suitable to form the tripropylene glycol. Water is present in the reaction mixture in the range of about 1 to about 50 weight percent of the reaction mixture. The ratio of water to alkylene oxide is less than about 9. The tripropylene glycol thus produced exhibits a higher primary hydroxyl group content generally exceeding 36 percent. Such tripropylene glycols find utility in the production of acrylics. Also disclosed is a process for making esters from such glycols.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the system including a multiplicity of wells producing hydrocarbons through flow lines, sensor units attached to each of the wells for monitoring hydrocarbon flow through the flow lines, and a portable electronics unit for operating the multiplicity of sensor units.

Abstract: A by-product of corn is utilized the drilling fluid while drilling boreholes to reduce friction and to reduce the normal adverse effects inherent in each drilling fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for conversion in a container of reactive material comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and lithium into its respective metal hydroxide. First the container is purged of essentially all oxygen with an essentially dry gas that is inert with respect to the reactive material. Next, a carrier gas is introduced into the container that is inert with respect to the reactive material. The humidity of the carrier gas, the temperatures of the reactive material, condensing surfaces inside the container, and the carrier gas are all suitable to allow water to condense out of the carrier gas once the carrier gas contacts the condensing surfaces and the reactive material. The condensed water will then react with the reactive material thereby forming the respective metal hydroxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: A device for positioning two threaded pipes being threaded together within a target range of relative axial positions, which device generally includes a sensor base, and a calibrating device for positioning the sensor base a calibrated distance from the end of one of the pipes. The device further includes a sensor head extending from the sensor base, for abutting the end of the second threaded pipe during the threading of the pipes together, to indicate a relative axial position of the pipes. The device even further includes a signal generator that generates a signal once the sensor head indicates the relative axial position of the pipes are within the target range of relative axial positions.

Abstract: A hat having elongated support members extending from the exterior of the crown of the hat, for supporting the hat upon the head of the wearer, to prevent the hat from causing any undue adverse affect to the wearer's hair style. An alternative embodiment of the hat further includes a casing having a framing that is either attached to the crown or a brim, which framing may be twisted to collapse the hat into a small compact size and shape.

Abstract: A well fluid emusion having a water phase and an oil phase of a sulfurized alcohol and a naturally occuring fat, oil or derivatives thereof. Also disclosed is a method of lubricating drilling equipment used in conjunction with the drilling, completion or workover of a subterranean well. The method includes introducing the above emulsified well fluid into the well for circulation through and out of the well, and further includes contacting the surface of the drilling equipment with the emulsified well fluid to provide an interface between the equipment surface and the water phase. Suitable naturally occurring fats and oils may be obtained from the following animal oils and fats: butter, lard, tallow, grease, herring, menhaden, pilchard and sardine; and from the following vegetable oils and fats: castor, coconut, coffee, corn, cottonseed, jojoba, linseed, liticica, olive, palm, palm kernel, peanut, rapeseed, safflower, soya, sunflower, tall and tung.