Abstract: A process for breaking an oil-water emulsion. The process comprises contacting the oil-water emulsion with a bacterial culture produced by growth in a liquid medium containing hydrocarbons under non-sterile conditions. The oil-water emulsion and bacterial culture are contacted under conditions that minimise degradation of the oil. The oil-water emulsion is permitted to form an oil layer and a water layer, which are then separated. The process is particularly useful in the treatment of slop-oil emulsion in the petroleum industry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-blunting blood collection needle (55) in which a blunting member (26a) is deployed upon withdrawal of a blood collection tube (56a) from the tube holder (e.g., 136), to blunt the needle (22) and so safeguard the patient and the technician from inadvertent needle sticks. The blunting member (26a) is retracted to re-sharpen the needle (22) when a subsequent collection tube is inserted into the holder (136). The deployment and retraction of the blunting member (26a) is accomplished with a mechanism (142) that is responsive to the insertion and withdrawal of the blood collection tube (56a) to retract and deploy the blunting member (26a) accordingly. One feature of the present invention is that the mechanism (142) effects blunting and re-sharpening of the needle without requiring that the technician manipulate the mechanism in a manner different from that of conventional, non-blunting collection needles.

Abstract: A device, e.g., an explosive-initiation device (24) includes a semiconductor bridge device (10) comprising semiconductor pads (14a, 14b) separated by an initiator bridge (14c) and having metallized lands (16a, 16b) disposed over the pads (14a, 14b). The metallized lands (16a, 16b) each comprise a titanium base layer (18), a titanium-tungsten intermediate layer (20) and a tungsten top layer (22). This multilayer construction is simple to apply, provides good adhesion to the semiconductor (14) and enhanced semiconductor bridge characteristics, and avoids the electromigration problems attendant upon use of aluminum metallized lands under severe conditions of no-fire tests and very low firing voltage or current levels. The semiconductor (14) may optionally be covered by a cap or cover (117) of a stratified metal layer similar or identical to the metallized lands (16a, 16b).

Abstract: A simple, reliable, and leak-proof electrochemical sensor for detection of toxic gases. The sensor comprises a housing having an electrochemical gas sensor cell with an electrolyte and first and second electrodes bonded to conductive plastic. Each of the first and second electrodes is a membrane formed from a fluoropolymer film having a layer adhered thereto of a catalyst-impregnated fluoropolymer. The layers of each of said first and second electrodes are bonded to conductive plastic, and are separated by an absorbent material having an electrolyte absorbed therein. The sensor is particularly intended for detection of carbon monoxide, but may be used to detect other gases.

Abstract: A flat-form separation device (12) is made of two half-section members (22, 22') which are fastened together by a series of fasteners (38) to define therebetween a receiving channel within which an expansion device (40) is received. Aside from the receiving channel and any apertures which are to receive mechanical fasteners, the separation device (12) is solid throughout and free of other channels or cavities. The device (12) includes a pair of joinder flanges formed by mating half-flange segments (28a and 28b), which contain apertures (32 and 34) by which the flat-form separation device (12) may be secured to structures (48, 50) which are to be temporarily joined by the device (12). Because of the cross-sectional profile of the half-section members (22, 22'), they may be made by manufacturing techniques, such as machining, which enable the use of alloys or metals which are much tougher and stronger than those which can be extraded to form prior art hollow-form separation devices (14).

Abstract: The presence of hydrocarbons in water is detected by contacting a water sample with an adsorbent material to extract hydrocarbons from the water sample and then contacting the adsorbent material with a solvent for the hydrocarbons. A developer such as a miscible nonsolvent liquid is mixed into the solvent to produce a test mixture. The turbidity of the test mixture is observed to determine the presence of hydrocarbons in the water sample. The nonsolvent may contain at least 0.5% salt, e.g., at least 1%, preferably 5% salt, and an emulsifier. Turbidity may be measured quantitatively by measuring light scattered at 90.degree. to a test light beam or by visual comparison to a reference scale.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device (10) formed in a chip of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon is disclosed and claimed. The device comprises a visibly exposed highly doped n.sup.+ region (16) embedded at the surface of an oppositely doped epitaxial layer (14), to form a first junction region (15) closed to the surface of the epitaxial layer. When the junction region is reverse biased to beyond avalanche breakdown, the device acts as a light emitting device to the external environment. When it is reversed biased to just below avalanche breakdown it acts as a light detector. The device may further include a further junction region for generating or providing additional carriers in the first junction region, thereby to improve the performance of the device. This further junction can be multiplied to facilitate multi-input processing functions where the light emission from the first junction is a function of the electrical signals applied to the further junctions.

Abstract: A perforating gun for perforating a section of a well casing in which a plurality of explosive charge units are mounted on an elongated mounting strip in a pattern corresponding to the desired pattern of perforations in the well casing. The areas of the mounting strip that receive the charge units have a greater width than the remaining areas of the strip to provide an increased support surface for the charge units. Each charge unit is formed by a case connected to a cap to provide a housing for the explosive. The cap is crimped to the case to prevent premature detonation of the explosive.

Abstract: A simple, reliable, and leak-proof three-electrode electrochemical sensor for detection of toxic gases. The sensor comprises a housing having an electrochemical gas sensor cell with an electrolyte and sensing, counter and reference electrodes bonded to conductive plastic. Each of the electrodes is a membrane formed from a fluoropolymer film having a layer adhered thereto of a fluoropolymer-impregnated catalyst. The layers of each of the electrodes are bonded to conductive plastic, and are separated by an absorbent material having an electrolyte absorbed therein. The sensor is particularly intended for detection of carbon monoxide, but may be used to detect other gases.

Abstract: A manifold (130) is configured to have a body portion (131) having at least one initiation port (132) for receiving an initiation device and at least one tapered boss (138) mounted on the body portion (131). The boss (138) has an elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a boss bore (140) for receiving a fuse or linear explosive charge (16) and it communicates with the initiation port (132). There is a clamp member (160) having an aperture (164) dimensioned and configured to generally conform to the boss (138), and tension means such as a set of bolts (166) for urging the clamp member (160) towards the manifold (130). There may be a bushing material (121) on the boss. The manifold (130) may be coupled to a separation device (23) that includes a frangible joint (24) through which is disposed an expansion member (110).