Abstract: A multiple product dispensing system includes a plurality of use solution dispensers and a controller for selecting one of the dispensers according to a preset regimen, e.g., selecting different dispensers on different days of the week. Each dispenser dispenses a controlled concentration of use solution using a diluent delivery apparatus that delivers a diluent to form a liquid concentrate from a solid chemical composition, and to form make-up diluent for diluting the liquid concentrate and forming a use solution of controlled concentration. A foam reducer reduces the kinetic energy of the make-up diluent prior to mixing with the liquid concentrate to reduce foaming. An unskilled operator may operate the dispensing system to dispense a use solution of carefully controlled concentration, and the controller will automatically select the proper dispenser according to the preset regimen, without any additional input on the part of the operator.

Abstract: A deodorant system includes a compact container for an odor absorbent, which may be temporarily secured to another surface such as an interior wall of a refrigerator or a garbage container, and which includes a calendar to assist in determining a replacement date for the deodorant system. A plastic housing is attached to a front face of a cardboard base plate to provide a container for the powdered odor absorbent. Several apertures are provided through a wall of the housing opposite the base plate, and an adhesive label is adhered over substantially the entire front face of the housing wall. Removal of the adhesive label exposes the odor absorbent, which consists primarily of calcium carbonate and activated carbon. Either a suction cup or an adhesive strip may be fixed to a rear face of the base plate for purposes of temporarily securing the packaging to another surface.

Abstract: A sterilization case 1 having one or more brackets 10 which are designed to enhance the steam sterilization of a medical apparatus 30 being held in the bracket 10. The bracket 10 is designed to provide cutout areas 51 to create a gap or gaps 52 between the surface of the apparatus 30 being held and the recess in the bracket 10, and yet still securely grip and hold the apparatus 30 in the bracket. The invention is adaptable to a wide variety of different shaped apparatus 30.

Abstract: An integral separator and cooling apparatus is provided for removing a lubricant from a heated, compressed lubricant and gas mixture, and for cooling the separated lubricant. The apparatus includes a lubricant reservoir for containing a liquid lubricant. A receiving plenum is made integral with the lubricant reservoir. The receiving plenum has an inlet for receiving the heated, compressed lubricant and gas mixture, a first outlet through which a heated, compressed gas exits, and a second outlet through which the separated lubricant flows from the receiving plenum. An apparatus is provided within the receiving plenum which causes a liquid lubricant to precipitate from the lubricant and gas mixture. A cooling core is made integral with the lubricant reservoir and the receiving plenum. The cooling core fluidly communicates with the lubricant reservoir and with the receiving plenum.

Abstract: A blow mold assembly has a first and second carriage, and air cylinders for moving the first and second carriages along guide rods between an open position and a closed position. A first and second mold half are coupled respectively to the first and second carriages to define in the closed position at least one blow mold cavity. A lock situated on confronting surfaces of the first and second carriages locks the carriages together when the carriages are located in the closed position. The lock includes a pair of channel defining members coupled to one of the carriages having opposed edges including a series of teeth separated by interdental spaces, and a corresponding pair of cooperating toothed members coupled to another of the carriages and arranged to penetrate the interdental spaces. Each first mold half is movably mounted to the first carriage and is biased away from the second mold half.

Abstract: In a handheld incident light meter instrument, a custom LCD panel provides both a digital readout and a bar graph array which simulates an analog meter but uses no moving mechanical parts and which may be operated in a choice of modes: bar, floating zone or dedicated. Unusual accuracy and stability over a wide dynamic range, from 0.1 to over 50,000 footcandles, are achieved in a novel analog photo-amplifier portion having a linear autoranging preamplifier, an averaging integrator and a temperature-compensated log converter, driving an IC analog-to-digital converter connected to a microprocessor programmed to operate in a choice of modes to operate the LCD via a driver to display light readings according to commands entered via a set of ergonomic user controls. Battery condition is displayed continuously. The digital readout may be backlit for low ambient light level.

Abstract: A microbe propagation preventing apparatus and a microbe propagation preventing method are provided to prevent anion from decreasing at a time of decomposing ozone generated by gaseous discharge or ionization so as to sufficiently generate air ion, and to sufficiently prevent propagation of microbes adhering to an object by using the air ion without secondary pollution. Further, in the apparatus and the method, a gas containing the ion is supplied into water so as to prevent the microbe propagation in the water. In the apparatus, an ozone decomposing chamber is mounted to be electrically insulated from an air duct. An electrode to remove a positive ion is mounted to obtain only a negative ion, and extend a lifetime of the obtained ion. An ion supplying portion is mounted to supply an ionized gas into a space housing the object in which microbes can be propagated, and return the ionized gas to an ionization chamber.

Abstract: A detergent dispenser that is coupled to a source of fluid and which has a chemical source in solid cast form. A spray generator is designed to generate a fluid spray bearing on the chemical source, the fluid spray generating a concentrated solution of the chemical. The concentrated solution of the chemical is discharged through a discharge conduit. A single valve controls a flow of fluid from the source of fluid. The valve has an inlet that is operably fluidly coupled to the source of fluid, an outlet that is operably fluidly coupled to the spray generator, and an outlet that is operably fluidly coupled to the discharge conduit. A metering device for selectively metering portions of the flow of fluid to the spray generator and to the discharge conduit is disposed within the valve and selectively fluidly couples the inlet to the outlet that is operably fluidly coupled to the spray generator and to the outlet that is operably fluidly coupled to the discharge conduit.

Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.

Abstract: A method for plasma sterilization comprises exposing an article to be sterilized to a neutral active species of a plasma generated from a premixed gas mixture comprising oxygen, hydrogen, and a noble gas. The exposure of the article to the plasma is carried out at reduced pressures and a chamber temperature of less than 63.degree. C. for a time period sufficient to effect sterilization. The apparatus for plasma sterilization of articles comprises a plasma generator, a sterilizing chamber, and a source of pressurized gas mixture in fluid communication with the plasma generator. The source of pressurized gas mixture has a noble gas and a substantially nonflammable mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, which is preferably between about 2.0 to 2.4 (v/v) percent hydrogen and between 2.6 to 3.0 (v/v) percent oxygen.

Abstract: A process for continuously producing coated particles, and in particular, particles in which the coating is uniform, contiguous and of minimal thickness is described, together with an apparatus for conducting the coating process in which a plurality of coating cells connected in series are provided wherein the particles are pneumatically conveyed during the coating application and in which controlled recirculation of particles occurs within each cell and a controlled spray is applied to the particles in order to produce a substantially uniform distribution of coating.

Abstract: A fluid tight waste materials receptacle is located within a housing which has an upper access opening through which infectious wastes from medical clinics or the like may be deposited in the receptacle. A lower access opening enables entry and withdrawal of a sterilized waste receiver which may, for example, be a wheeled cart. The receptacle has an open end and a closed end and is pivotable between a first orientation at which the open end is coincident with the upper access opening in order to receive wastes and a second orientation at which the open end is turned downward to discharge wastes into the receiver. A closure pivoted to the housing seats in and seals the open end of the receptacle when it is at the first orientation. The receptacle is periodically evacuated and steam is admitted to sterilize the contents prior to discharge into the receiver.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus for use in a refrigerator generates a plurality of positive or negative D.C. voltages to a pointed electrode structure and a strip shaped electrode structure in order to generate corona discharge, thereby sterilizing/deodorizing air in the refrigerator's compartments, and furthermore a separate positive or negative voltage is applied to an ionizing electrode to generate positive or negative ions in the air, thus preserving the freshness of stored foodstuffs for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a hydrogen peroxide stable contact lens is provided wherein a contact lens is contacted with a hydrogen peroxide solution in a container and a hydrogen peroxide decomposition means is provided in said container, which means is adapted to permit the contact lens to have a cumulative (% peroxide) (min) exposure from the time said decomposition means contacts said peroxide containing solution, time zero, over a period of no greater than 12 hours of at least 20% peroxide.multidot.minute. An apparatus capable of carrying out such method is also provided herein. The hydrogen peroxide decomposition means may be, for example, a prepoisoned catalyst, a catalyst partially enclosed in a tube, a dual catalyst control system or a distributed catalyst control system.

Abstract: A refrigerator freshening device includes an air-permeable container, enclosing a mixture, in particulate form, of a major amount of activated carbon and a minor amount of an odor-absorbing zeolite. The activated carbon is preferably characterized by a good distribution of large and small pores, at least 30 percent of the pores having a diameter of from about 15 to less than about 50 .ANG. and the zeolite by a strong organophilic character and a surface area of at least about 400 square meters per gram. The combination of particulate adsorbent materials preferably includes from about 5 to about 25 percent of the zeolite and from about 75 to about 95 percent of the activated carbon. The device preferably includes a front panel, a back panel, and a package constructed of flexible, porous material enclosing absorbent, wherein the front panel receives the back panel in nesting relationship and encloses the package of adsorbent material. Hooks are preferred to suspend the device freely within a refrigerator.

Abstract: A method for measuring the linear flow velocity, radial position, direction, and the flow rate of water flowing within and behind a well borehole casing. A logging tool containing a source of essentially monoenergetic 14 MeV neutrons and at least one gamma ray detector is positioned within the well borehole opposite the zone in which water flow measurements are desired. The neutron source is turned on thereby irradiating any flowing water and other areas in the vicinity of the well borehole with high energy neutrons. After a predetermined irradiation time, the neutron source is turned off. Following a quiescent period of several milliseconds to allow thermal capture gamma radiation to decay to a negligible level, the gamma ray detector is turned on and the count rate from the N-16 induced within the flowing water is recorded as a function of time. The linear flow velocity, the Full Width Half Maximum time period, and the total count are determined directly from the resulting count rate curve.

Abstract: A substantially noncorrosive antimicrobial composition includes by weight percent between 0.25 to 2.0% available iodine, 20.0 to 50.0% fatty acid, 15.0%-35% non-ionic surfactant, 5.0-16.0% (w/v) buffering agent and 10.0-60.0% water (v/v). The composition has a pH between 3.0 and 5.0. Methods for using the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalytic vessel for adsorbing catalytic metals, such as from automotive exhaust gases, and carrying out three-way catalysis includes an inlet at an upstream end, a plurality of catalytic chambers located downstream of the inlet, and an outlet. At least one of the catalytic chambers contains a plurality of sheet members preferably made of steel and adapted for deposition of a metal selected from the group of noble and non-noble metals, and more particularly from the group including platinum, rhodium, rhenium, palladium, and gold. The vessel may be used in a catalytic system which contains a liquid source of metal catalysts, such as a solution or a gasoline additive, from which the metal catalysts are added to a combustion system, and the catalytic vessel, which collects the metal catalysts and is a site for three-way catalytic conversion of starting materials such as automotive emissions to final products.

Abstract: Organic and/or inorganic substances and water are thermally separated from contaminated materials, solid aggregates, the contaminated material is pretreated and is subsequently heated in a directly or indirectly heated furnace, which includes a rotary kiln, a fluidized bed furnace or a floating zone reactor, and during the heating the material is treated with recycled hot gases or recycled hot steam and with oxidizing agents. The exiting processing gases, which contain water vapor, are dedusted, and 80 to 90% by volume of the water vapor-containing processing gases are recycled to the furnace to act as entraining gas. The remaining water vapor-containing processing gases are condensed, the resulting liquid phase is withdrawn, and pollutants are removed from the withdrawn liquid phase by a wet chemical or physical processing.

Abstract: Small particles and fines included along with larger subdivided solids are treated with liquid to extract soluble solids therein in an apparatus and process using milli-screens with milli-sized openings of less than about 0.095 inches across. The milli-screen openings may be kept open for the passage of liquids with specially-designed wipers and/or back-flushing from a liquid compartment and/or rotation of the milli-screen past the matrix of subdivided solids, the subdivided solids themselves acting as a screen cleaner. The invention is useful in batch or continuous diffusers for extracting soluble solids from subdivided solids containing small particles and fines.