Abstract: A pancake cooking apparatus has an elongate and preferably open-ended griddle and a batter scraper by which a mass of batter is spread from one end of the griddle to the other. Thickness uniformity is realized by structures for keeping the scraper's edge and the griddle's cooking surface spaced a fixed distance apart during the batter spreading step. The pancake cooking apparatus at times includes a plurality of side-by-side griddles for high-volume manual cooking operations. A method for cooking uniformly thin, rectangular pancakes uses the cooking apparatus.

Abstract: A snow-removal, such as a snow shovel, snow plow and the like, includes a heated blade. The snow-removal device might also provide a selection of temperature settings for the heated blade. The snow-removal device at least fluidizes the snow when the blade slices into it, whereby the fluidized snow lubricates the interface region between the blade and the snow, diminishing the physical effort required.

Abstract: A board game apparatus is provided for instructing game participants on safety rules and regulations comprising a game board, at least one game marker, at least one marker-movement chance device and at least one stop-or-go chance device. The game board has a playing surface, which can be its upper surface, that has a plurality of domains delineated at least by outline demarcations. The domains include at least one hazard domain and at least one journey domain. The journey domain is comprised of a succession of spaces having a beginning and an end. The hazard domain comprises a hedged-hazard region that includes at least one hazard space immediately preceded by a stop-or-go security space that contains a representation of a stop-or-go safety regulation.

Abstract: A method and system diagnoses system reliability problems and/or system failure in a physical system through the predictive identification of errant fluctuations in one or more operating parameters of said physical system. The values of at least one kind of operating parameter of physical system are determined. A data stream of the parameter values are divided into one or more sets, and the sets are associated into one or more series. Through a series of mathematical calculations, it is determined whether an N0, Nx or N1 condition exists. An N0 condition indicates that the values are probably within a good operating range. An Nx condition indicates the probability of approaching a point outside of a good operating range condition. An N1 condition indicates the entering of the range of possible system failure.

Abstract: There is provided an adhesive system comprised of a pressure-sensitive adhesive matrix having dispersed therein organic particulate solids having a particle size no greater than 300 microns, and generally no greater than 225 microns, which matrix may have at least one, and generally two, sides coated with an unfilled pressure-sensitive adhesive material, which adhesive materials generally may be acrylic materials. Such adhesive system is one generally provided as a sheet, including elongated tapes, having a thickness of from about 25 to 60 mils.

Abstract: An aqueous scale inhibitor product is corrosive to the elongated feed lines of a geothermal well due to the length of such feed lines, extended residence time of the product therein, and/or the elevated internal temperatures reached therein, and such corrosivity of aqueous scale inhibitor products is reduced when the scale inhibitor actives are no more than about 10 weight percent of the aqueous solution, when the pH of such aqueous solution is raised to the range of from about 5.5, or 8, to about 12, when carbohydrazide is added to such product, and by combinations of such factors.

Abstract: There is provided an adhesive system comprised of a pressure-sensitive adhesive matrix having dispersed. therein organic particulate solids having a particle size no greater than 300 microns, and generally no greater than 225 microns, which matrix may have at least one, and generally two, sides coated with an unfilled pressure-sensitive adhesive material, which adhesive materials generally may be acrylic materials. Such adhesive system is one generally provided as a sheet, including elongated tapes, having a thickness of from about 25 to 60 mils.

Abstract: A fortified pressure sensitive adhesive is comprised of a polymerization product of, or a polymeric composition derived from a formulation comprising at least one non-tertiary acrylic acid alkyl ester formed from a primary or secondary alcohol, an organofunctional silane, wherein said organofunctional silane is present in said formulation in an amount sufficient to increase the adhesive characteristics of the pressure sensitive adhesive, and an ethylenically-unsaturated dimer, wherein the ethylenically-unsaturated dimer is present in the formulation in an amount sufficient to increase the adhesive characteristics of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A composition suitable as an additive in down-hole fluid for inhibiting clay swelling in a down-hole formation is comprised of an aqueous solution of a quaternary amine-based cationic polyelectrolyte and salt(s). The cation of the salt(s) may be a divalent salt cation, a choline cation, are certain N-substituted quaternary ammonium salt cations. The salt(s) anion may be a monovalent inorganic anion or an anion derived from an organic acid having from 2 to 6 carbons.

Abstract: An adhesive composition for a insect-control agent, such as gypsy moth pheromone beads, provides retention and water insolubility to such pesticide upon deposit of an aqueous mixture of such adhesive composition and insect-control agent. The adhesive composition concentrate comprises a salt such as sodium sulfate, an ethoxylated alkylphenol, a polymeric adhesive material, and a high molecular weight acrylate polymer.

Abstract: Leakage of water from a boiler water system wherein steam is generated in a boiler from feedwater fed to the boiler, and the concentration of impurities in the boiler water within the boiler is reduced by withdrawing fractions thereof as blowdown while admitting additional feedwater as boiler-water makeup, is determined. The boiler has a concentration cycle value, the concentration cycle value being the average value of the concentration of an inert component in the blowdown at steady state (C.sub.F) divided by the concentration of the inert component in the feedwater (C.sub.I). The concentration of the inert component in the boiler at steady state varies from a high concentration C.sub.H, having a value that is higher than C.sub.F, to a low concentration C.sub.L, having a value between the (C.sub.I) and the (C.sub.F), within a time period.

Abstract: Leakage is detected between a process fluid and a temperature-conditioning fluid, or from a process fluid to a temperature-conditioning fluid, in an industrial process. The industrial process includes an A and a B fluid, and one of the A and B fluids receives heat from or transfer heat to the other of the A and the B fluids by an indirect contact method, and one but not both of the A and the B fluids is an industrial process fluid. At least one specie of tracer chemical is maintained in the A fluid, and that specie of tracer chemical is not a normal component of the B fluid. At least one of the A and the B fluids is subjected to at least one analysis at least one site. Such analysis at least detects the presence of the specie of tracer chemical when the fluid subjected to the analysis is the B fluid, and such analysis at least determines the concentration of the specie of tracer chemical when the fluid subjected to the analysis is the A fluid.

Abstract: A process for improving the flocculation of suspended solids in a Bayer process liquor in a primary settler stage. The method includes the step of adding to a primary settler feed from about 1 to about 100 parts per million of a composition including a non-inverted, water-continuous polymer, said polymer being hydrolyzable in a Bayer process liquor to an acid form, said acid form being an active red mud flocculant.

Abstract: In a method for reducing the fouling of a compressor of a vinyl acetate production unit having a light ends stream feed, a hindered phenol is added to the compressor feed. The method retards the loss of compressor efficiency with run time and increases the run time before clean-out is required. The hindered phenol is added in a dosage amount effective for reducing the fouling of the compressor.

Abstract: In a diagnostic method wherein steam condensate is evaluated, the proportion of condensate water from one steam source, versus other steam sources, is determined by adding at an addition point a tracer that is selectively carried over into the steam.

Abstract: The concentration of an aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor in the water of an aqueous system is monitored by a fluorometric method which is based upon the measurement of the fluorescence intensity of the aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor itself, and the precise determination of concentration permits control of the dosage of such aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: The concentration of a water soluble corrosion inhibitor formulation in the water of an aqueous system is monitored by a UV absorption method which is based upon the measurement of the absorbance of a component of corrosion inhibitor formulation. The method is particularly suited to on-site determinations of inhibitor residuals in large aqueous systems, such as in oil field applications, which have an acute need for rapid and adaptable assays, so as to provide precise information before corrosion damage can occur.

Abstract: A process monitors boric acid or other boron compounds in a fluid system. At least one specie of tracer chemical is added to a fluid system and at least one sample of fluid from the fluid system is analyzed for at least the presence of the tracer, and the presence of the specie of tracer chemical in such sample determines at least the presence of boric acid or other boron compounds in the sample.

Abstract: A polymer having pendant fluorescent groups is prepared by (trans)amidation of a preformed polymer by reaction with an amine-containing organic fluorescent composition of the Formula III ##STR1## wherein one of R.sub.5 and R.sup.6 may be hydrogen, and wherein within at least one of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, or within R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 taken together, is an organic fluorescent group wherein the organic fluorescent group includes a polynuclear aromatic ring system. A degree of (trans)amidation derivatization of the polymer is accomplished by heating the admixture of polymer and fluorescent agent for a sufficient period of time.

Abstract: A method of controlling pitch deposits in a pulp and papermaking process comprising adding lipase and a cationic polymer to a cellulosic slurry in amounts effective for diminishing pitch deposits from the cellulosic slurry in a pulp and/or paper mill. The method may include adding lipase and a cationic polymer to a cellulosic slurry in amounts effective for both reducing the triglyceride content of a cellulosic slurry by hydrolysis and diminishing the concentration of fatty acids released by the hydrolysis in the aqueous phase of a cellulosic slurry. The triglyceride hydrolysate content of the aqueous phase of a cellulosic slurry, formed by the action of lipase on triglyceride within the cellulosic slurry, is reduced when the amount of lipase and the amount of a cationic polymer is maintained for a time period sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the triglyceride in the cellulosic slurry and reduce the triglyceride hydrolysate in the aqueous phase of the cellulosic slurry.