Abstract: The invention relates to a gear extruder for plasticizing and homogenizing rubber mixtures, having at least two gears disposed in chambers in the extruder housing, with the teeth of the gears meshing with one another, and having a port for feeding the rubber mixture to the front of the gears in the extruder housing. The invention is characterized in that gas vent ports are provided in the extruder housing, at the ends of the teeth of the gears, in an area in which the teeth disengage, and/or that at the entrance side of the teeth filled with the rubber mixture. The gas vent ports are provided in the extruder housing in one embodiment so that they extend on the entrance side over no more than half of the circumference of the chambers. By such an arrangement of gas vent ports it has become possible to ventilate a rubber mixture such that volatile components and moisture contained therein can be outgassed, but the rubber mixture is unable to enter the gas vent ports and clog them.

Abstract: A front discharge concrete vehicle includes a chassis having a front end and a rear end, a mixing drum supported by the chassis having a first end and a second end, a support column extending between the chassis and the second end of the drum to support the second end of the drum and a cab enclosure supported by the chassis below the second end of the drum. The cab enclosure includes an integrally formed housing extending about a first operator station and a second operator station. The cab enclosure further includes at least one control member between the first and second operator stations and an opening extending between the first and second operator stations. The opening extends below the at least one control member to enable the at least one control member to be accessed from both the first operator station and the second operator station.

Abstract: Human hair is formed into a generally planar layer. The layer may comprise a center scrim to which the human hair is attached. The device is buoyant when saturated with oil and water. The device is used to remove oil from water.

Abstract: An asphalt plant including a plurality of asphalt processing components, with a selected first set of the components producing volatile emissions and a selected second set requiring process heat energy. A central burner assembly is connected to the selected second set of components by an insulated duct system for providing heat energy to the second component set. A first duct system is adapted to capture a portion of the volatile emissions produced by the first component set and convey the captured emissions into the central burner for mitigation. The central burner is preferably a media burner incorporating flameless combustion technology as well as an adjustable internal fuel injection system, which results in safer and more controllable combustion. Even with captured fugitive emissions in the inlet air, the fuel injection system keeps the concentration of combustible materials well below the lower flammability limit.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for separating an original feed solution such as seawater into a product solution of decreased concentration (relatively fresh water) and an exhaust solution of increased concentration. The apparatus includes an annular reverse osmosis membrane means, contained in an annular pressure vessel that is housed in a rotor assembly. The rotor is arranged to spin on an axle and is located within an evacuated shroud.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for mixing liquid carbon dioxide with an additive or surfactant and then forcibly dispersing the mixture into a cleaning chamber full of liquid carbon dioxide. Valving controls the process of admitting a liquid additive into a two liter reservoir and then admitting liquid carbon dioxide into the two liter reservoir under pressure thus filling the reservoir. The mixture is then admitted to the cleaning chamber under pressure. A nozzle, a plurality of nozzles, or a pipe having apertures therein is used to disperse the mixture inside the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for purifying water-insoluble particles is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of continuously recirculating a fluid aqueous suspension of the water-insoluble particles between a filtration system and a suspension reservoir; continuously conducting ultrafiltration of the recirculating suspension at the filtration system to separate an aqueous permeate containing the water-soluble impurities from the recirculating fluid aqueous suspension; continuously discharging the permeate generated by ultrafiltration; adding water to the recirculating fluid aqueous suspension undergoing ultrafiltration at approximately the same volumetric rate per hour as permeate is being discharged; monitoring the purity of the recirculating fluid aqueous suspension; and recovering the purified fluid aqueous suspension after the recirculating fluid aqueous suspension has reached a predetermined purity condition. An apparatus is also disclosed for carrying out the above process.

Abstract: A filter apparatus (10) which dissipates static charge from fluid flowing through the apparatus has a filter housing (12) enclosing a filter element (14). The filter element includes a tubular filter media assembly (15) which incorporates a conductive structure to draw off static charge in fluid passing through the media. The tubular filter media assembly comprises an outer steel mesh support layer (24); a first intermediate layer (25) of a filtration media; a second intermediate layer (26) of a carbon material, e.g., stainless steel, nickel or carbon fiber mesh, mat or matrix; and an inner steel mesh support layer (27). The filter media assembly is pleated and disposed around a central perforated conductive tube (16). The filter media is electrically connected at one or both ends through conductive adhesive or epoxy to at least one conductive end cap (20, 22). The conductive end cap has a central opening (33, 34), and receives a portion of the grounded filter housing (50, 52), for example, an inlet tube.

Abstract: A filter cartridge assembly includes a filter cartridge having a generally cylindrical filter medium which defines a cylindrically shaped core space, and a pair of end caps fixed to opposite ends of the filter medium. Most preferably, the filter cartridge is "coreless" in that it is not provided with an integral support core structure. At least one of the end caps (e.g., the proximal end cap) is annular and has an interior cylindrical surface defining an interior space in alignment with the core space. A truncated generally conically shaped seal skirt is operatively associated with the annular end caps. The filter cartridge is sleeved over reusable support core structure which includes a base having a truncated conically shaped seal skirt, and a tubular perforated rigid core element fixed at one end to the base. The annular end-cap and the base of the support core structure are removably mechanically coupled to one another, most preferably by being threadably interconnected.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatuses and processes for preparing fibrinogen glue from autologous plasma. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel apparatus comprising a plasma membrane separator to extract and separate the autologous plasma from other undesirable compositions in the blood. The autologous plasma is transferred to a membrane separator to provide separation of the fibrinogen from other compositions with a desirable amount of ether or other suitable solvents containing an-OH group in the presence of a mixing means. The fibrinogen so separated is transferred to a fibrinogen collector which is connected to a vacuum pump through a sterile filter to remove the ether or other suitable solvents contained thereof. A freezer is provided to maintain the autologous plasma in the membrane separator and the fibrinogen in the fibrinogen collector at a desirable temperature.

Abstract: A separator (1) for separating dense particulates from slurry includes a sealed housing (2) enclosing a submerged screen bed (33) which allows dense particulates to fall into a hutch (6) from which they may be discharged. The housing has a slurry inlet (4) arranged to deliver slurry to a sump (3) which directs slurry to flow radially over the bed. An annular cavity (23) formed between the housing and bed receives tailings flowing off of the top of the bed. An outlet (7) from the annular cavity allows discharge of the tailings, and a liquid inlet (30) to the hutch provides an upward flow of liquid through the bed. The bed is agitated to assist passage of dense particulates.

Abstract: A water treating device includes an outer casing, a reverse osmosis tube, a side cap, and an outlet tube. The outer casing includes an outer tube having a first inlet for water and a first outlet, an inner tube mounted inside the outer tube and including a number of holes defined in a periphery of an end thereof, and a water-permeable layer mounted between the inner tube and the outer tube. The reverse osmosis tube is mounted in the inner tube and includes a second inlet for water from the holes of the inner tube and adjacent to the end of the outer tube. The reverse osmosis tube further includes a second outlet for pure water. The side cap is mounted to seal a first end of the outer casing and includes a first electric rod to interconnect the outer tube with a positive power connection and a second electric rod to interconnect the inner tube with a negative power connection.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis process for treating a phenolic stripped sour water stream containing soluble and insoluble contaminants is provided. Prior to passage through a reverse osmosis membrane, the phenolic stripped sour water stream is cooled, subjected to air flotation and filtered through a sand filtration system to remove insoluble contaminants, and passed through a water softener to remove divalent and trivalent metal cation contaminants. The pH of the stream is adjusted prior to the water softener, and again prior to the reverse osmosis membrane, to stabilize the solubility of soluble organic contaminants present within the stream.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary devices, systems and methods for mixing of fluids, such as biological fluids. One exemplary device comprises is particularly adapted for holding at least one cartridge having a chamber containing a biological fluid, with the chamber having a generally planar face. The device comprises a rotatable body having a rotational axis. The rotatable body includes at least one mounting element which is adapted to mount the rotatable body such that the face of the chamber is generally perpendicular to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A filter tube for use in earth coated type filters includes a flexible permeable tubular sheet internally supported by a helical spring which in one embodiment extends partially along the length of the filter tube. The unsupported free end or an intermediate portion is subjected to oscillation to dislodge contaminated coating material accumulated on the surfaces of the filter sheet. External means are provided at the free end of the filter to permit oscillation and to support a plurality of filter ends. In another embodiment, an internal spring is connected between opposite ends of the filter tube to support the full length of the tube wall. One end of the tube is connected to an external spring and anchor plate. In a slack position, the tube end folds over an end collar connected to the spring. Extension of the anchor plate applies tension to stretch the spring and tube to a taut position during a cycling operation which oscillates the tube to dislodge accumulated material.

Abstract: A filtration membrane for micro- or ultra-filtration is formed from a complex of PVDF and calcined .alpha.-alumina (".alpha.-Al") particles, in which complex the particles are reacted and dispersed. The suspended complex is then mixed with a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (40%-90% hydrolyzed) referred to herein as HPVA, which reacts with the complex imparting hydrophilicity to the polymer. The novel membrane provides about 50% higher specific flux than a membrane made with the same polymer but without the .alpha.-Al particles. Unexpectedly, the net flux is improved by treating the membrane with a solution of sodium hypochlorite which fails to remove the HPVA from the novel membrane but does remove it from the prior art membrane which does not contain the .alpha.-Al. The preferred membrane comprises a macroporous support coated on its outer surface with a thin tubular asymmetric semipermeable film of polymer containing less than about 50% by weight of .alpha.-Al particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering bioproducts from a feed solution. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a module housing, a membrane disposed in the housing for filtering the bioproducts from the feed solution, and an adsorbent bed disposed in the housing for retaining the bioproducts which permeate through the membrane, wherein the apparatus is adapted to allow fractionation and purification of the retained bioproducts from the bed by elution.

Abstract: A process for producing a hollow fiber membrane, a hollow fiber membrane, and a dialyzer of hollow fiber membrane type is provided. The hollow fiber membrane is highly biocompatible, and the production process is quite simple and inexpensive. In the process of the invention, the hollow fiber membrane is produced in a system wherein a polymer-containing spinning solution is extruded from a tube-in-tube type orifice of a spinner in a coagulation solution to form the hollow fiber membrane. The polymer-containing spinning solution is extruded from the outer tube of the orifice to form a cylindrical filament having an inner bore and a core solution is ejected from the inner tube of the orifice into the inner bore of the filament for coagulation of the filament. The filament is directly extruded into the coagulation solution or extruded into air and then drawn to the coagulation solution.

Abstract: A blood filter is disclosed which actively removes unwanted particles from the blood without using passive elements such as a cartridge. The blood filter includes a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area for providing filtered blood to a patient, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir. A plurality of independent blood paths extend from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for separate flows of blood therethrough. An array of detectors is placed adjacent the exterior of each blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing therethrough. An array of valves is placed in operable relationship with the blood paths to close selected ones of the blood paths when unwanted particles are detected. Blood return conduits open to divert the particle-containing blood to a reservoir. Several arrays of detectors and valve combinations may be provided for redundancy.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of pure cyclosporin which is purified chromatographically from a mixture of different cyclosporin forms and other substances prepared by fermentation. The process comprises feeding a mixture containing a desired form of cyclosporin with an eluent consisting of high pressure carbon dioxide and an adjuvant, into a chromatography column being packed with particles prepared of silica, and recovering from the eluent flow coming out of the chromatography column a fraction which contains the desired cyclosporin form in adequately pure form.