Abstract: A method is described for estimating the temperature of the exhaust gases upstream from a pre-catalyser disposed along an exhaust pipe of an internal-combustion engine, which is provided with a system for controlling the composition of the exhaust gases, comprising an oxygen sensor, which is disposed along the exhaust pipe, upstream from the pre-catalyser, a heater, which is associated with the oxygen sensor, and a control unit, which, inter alia, serves the purpose of piloting the heater. The method comprises the steps of: determining an operative quantity, which is correlated to an electrical power supplied to the heater, in order to keep the operative temperature of the oxygen sensor close to a target temperature; and determining the temperature of the exhaust gases upstream from the pre-catalyser, according to the said operative quantity.

Abstract: A system for melting and delivering glass to a work area such as spinners for making fiberglass includes a melter with heaters so arranged that the “hot spot” in the molten glass is located away from the walls and corrosion sensitive parts so that the various elements of the melter wear out at substantially the same time. The system is further provided with a dual exhaust arrangement when the melter, conditioner and forehearth are located on the same floor of the plant, the first exhaust being at the juncture of the melter and conditioner, and the second being an alternating replacement for one of the heating/cooling orifices and mechanisms in the conditioner, so as to effectively limit the amount of corrosive volatiles reaching the forehearth.

Abstract: Apparatus for scarifying an interior surface of a pipe both of round and non-round cross section. The apparatus, which has a nozzle for discharging fluid under pressure against the interior surface of the pipe, also has a vehicle moveable along an interior of the pipe in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the pipe, a principal arm coupled to the vehicle and a scarifying assembly rotatably coupled to the principal arm having a fluid nozzle assembly with at least one fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle assembly is operative to one of rotate and oscillate, one of the scarifying assembly and the principal arm being extendible to place the fluid nozzle at a location adjacent the interior surface of the pipe and operative, as the vehicle moves along the interior of said pipe, to remove contaminants and corrosion along a selected region along the interior surface of pipe.

Abstract: A degradable container is disclosed as containing 60 wt % to 70 wt % of a plant fiber, from 10 wt % to 30 wt % of an adhesive and from 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of a demoulding agent, in which the adhesive is a modified urea-formaldehyde resin. A method of forming a degradable container is also disclosed as including the steps of (a) grinding a plant fiber to a size smaller than a pre-determined size; (b) nixing grounded plant fiber obtained under step (a) with a demoulding agent to form a premixed material; (c) mixing said premixed material with an adhesive into a powder form; (d) press-moulding said powder obtained under step (c) a first time under a pressure of 5-80 MPa; and (e) press-moulding said powder a second time under a pressure of 1.5-16 MPa into said container.

Abstract: A method for controlling the titre of the air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine provided with at least two cylinders, in which the exhaust gas present in a common exhaust manifold is analyzed in order to measure at least two successive values of the overall air-fuel ratio of the cylinders; a value of the air-fuel ratio of a final combusted cylinder being estimated by carrying out a linear composition of the two successive values of the overall air-fuel ratio of the cylinders and the value of the air-fuel ratio of the final combusted cylinder being attributed to a first of the cylinders and being used to correct a titer of the air-fuel mixture introduced into the first cylinder.

Abstract: An actuator for engaging and disengaging parts together which, during actuation may incur an obstacle to engagement, the actuator including a mechanism for incurring the obstacle and automatically stopping actuation, a mechanism for removing the obstacle to engagement and for automatically restarting actuation upon removal of the obstacle thereby to achieve engagement.

Abstract: An insulated roof or wall structure is formed by creating a depth of drape to the approximate thickness of the R-value of a fiberglass insulation batt in a draped, untaut sheet of vapor barrier material which defines an insulation cavity in which the fiberglass is located thereby minimizing compression of the fiberglass and approximating in the structure its intended R-value.

Abstract: A hinge apparatus consisting of a wire hinge, hinge bracket and cover bracket to provide a means for permitting the easy removal of a cover of a protective enclosure without its complete disengagement from the body of the enclosure. The hinge apparatus maintains the attachment of the cover to the main body of the protective enclosure without hindering access to the internal components within the enclosure.

Abstract: Unlike standard atmospheric glycol reconcentration units with reboilers, which release into the atmosphere column overheads containing water vapor, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), H2S (hydrogen sulfide) and other gaseous (including vaporous) pollutants extracted from lean glycol, the disclosed apparatus directs the overheads to the plant fuel system, or to a thermal/catalytic oxidation system, or to a compressor which is already in service compressing low pressure lease-produced gas or to a combination of these destinations. The reboiler operating pressure is maintained in the range of about 25 to about 125 PSIA. When using a stripper, which may either be in or downstream of the reboiler, one may for example achieve a 98.5+% TEG concentration at a reboiler pressure of 75 PSIA and a temperature of 390° F., using approximately 10 SCF of stripping gas per gallon of glycol circulated.

Abstract: A drinking apparatus which generally includes a drinking straw with a weight thereon for anchoring the drinking straw against the buoyancy of a carbonated beverage.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a gear shift rod, and having a control shaft connected to the gear shift rod; a linear actuator for effecting given axial displacements or given angular displacements of the control rod to shift between two gear engagement positions in the same range; a first cam guide device for converting, on command, the axial or angular displacements into combined axial-angular displacements, so as to shift between consecutive gears in consecutive ranges; and a second cam guide device for converting, on command, the axial or angular displacements into combined axial-angular displacements, so as to shift between nonconsecutive gears in not necessarily consecutive ranges.

Abstract: A method and machine for reading and assigning optical codes to a succession of moving articles, each having at least one respective optical code, and the method including the steps of feeding the succession of articles, by means of a conveyor, through a read area; reading the optical codes within the read area by means of at least one optical reader, and determining, as each optical code is being read, the position in space of the optical code with respect to a given space reference; and assigning each optical code to the corresponding article by matching the position in space of the optical code with the position in space of the corresponding article.

Abstract: A multiple peak tent (1) structure which is mechanically simple and easy to assemble. The tent structure of this invention can span relatively large areas without inhibiting mobility under the tent through the use of ground extending support poles. The canopy (3) of the multiple peak tent (1) structure is supported by multiple masts (8) resting on a cable network (11). The cable network (11) is attached to the upper corners of the frame structure resulting in a tent having no supporting poles that extend to the ground in the covered area. The multiple peak tent (1) structure may be expanded modularly to span larger areas.