Abstract: A knife blade sharpener including two generally circular sharpening members pivotally mounted about a pivot axis and having opposed grinding edges. The grinding edges are located along one side of a notch formed in each of the generally circular sharpening members and can be brought to face one another, adjustably subtending an obtuse angle therebetween. The pivot axis may be established by a screw and a knurled nut enabling the user to tighten the two generally circular sharpening members together at a selected subtended angle for sharpening. A knife blade may be drawn through a wedge shaped gap between the two mutually facing grinding edges, and thereby sharpened. The knife blade sharpener has resilient gripping pads and a holster which facilitates gripping as well as for stowage.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for indexing a workpiece to a tool at a predetermined angle of orientation, using a bubble level to establish a horizontal reference plane. The bubble level may be pivotally fixed to a housing of a jig which may incorporate a magnet for adhering the housing to a magnetically responsive workpiece. The bubble level may be secured at a particular pivotal orientation such that when the workpiece is held against the cutting or abrading surface of a tool, the workpiece may be manually maintained at the predetermined angle of orientation such that a ground surface disposed at a predetermined angle on the workpiece may be formed while holding the workpiece manually. The jig may incorporate an adjustable leg to assist in tightening the bubble level at the particular pivotal orientation.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for indexing a workpiece to a tool at a predetermined angle of orientation, using a bubble level to establish a horizontal reference plane. The bubble level may be pivotally fixed to a housing of a jig which may incorporate a magnet for adhering the housing to a magnetically responsive workpiece. The bubble level may be secured at a particular pivotal orientation such that when the workpiece is held against the cutting or abrading surface of a tool, the workpiece may be manually maintained at the predetermined angle of orientation such that a ground surface disposed at a predetermined angle on the workpiece may be formed while holding the workpiece manually. The jig may incorporate an adjustable leg to assist in tightening the bubble level at the particular pivotal orientation.

Abstract: An RFID tag includes a transceiver for communicating with a tag reader; memory for storing a deactivation string, an encrypted deactivation string created externally to the tag by encrypting the deactivation string, and a trial string created externally to the tag by decrypting the encrypted deactivation; and logic for comparing the deactivation string and the trial string to determine whether they are the same, and, if they are the same, configuring the tag to permit deactivation. A method executed by the RFID tag includes comparing the trial string with the deactivation string to determine whether they are the same, and if they are the same, configuring the tag to permit deactivation. The trial string may be created externally to the tag by decrypting, using a first key, an encrypted deactivation string that is created externally to the tag by encrypting the deactivation string using a second key.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for fluidized bed mixing of fluids and gases in which the fluid is injected with a high angular velocity through a relatively narrow, preferably single, orifice (3). The angular velocity may be imparted by injecting the fluid at high velocity tangentially at the periphery of the squate chamber (4) so that angular momentum is gained as it spirals inwards towards orifice (3). Optionally, an open-topped hopper (5) for solids is suspended above orifice (3). The lower end of the hopper (5) terminates in a second orifice (7) located vertically above orifice (3). The solid particles are thereby swept radially outwards towards the wall of the chamber (1) in co-current admixture with the fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for contacting a gas with a liquid by injecting gas at high tangential velocity into a contacting zone so as to form a large centrifugal force in the zone and allowing the gas to transit across a liquid inlet in the zone so that liquid is drawn into countercurrent contact with the gas. One embodiment of the apparatus consists of a closed vessel (1) having an internal baffle (5), and inlet (3) for gas or vapor injection and a gas or vapor outlet (4). The internal baffle defines an upper gas-liquid contacting zone and a lower storage zone for liquid (8). Liquid is drawn into the contacting zone through the liquid inlet dip-pipe (7) and after contact with the gas can flow back to the storage zone via the peripheral gap (6).

Abstract: Process and apparatus for pyrolysis of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in which the feedstock is countercurrently contacted with a hot hydrogenating gas stream flowing spirally from the periphery of a substantially circular reactor (1). The hydrocarbon feedstock is injected through an inlet (4) located toward the center of reactor (1). The hot hydrogenating gas is preferably formed by combustion, using a steam-oxygen mixture injected through inlet (2), of carbonaceous by-products from the pyrolysis. Product is removed centrally through outlet (3).

Abstract: Process and apparatus suitable for the regeneration of catalytic cracking catalyst particles and for the heating and partial conversion of coke particles from a coking process are described. The particles are heated in two successive zones, for example formed by two fluidized beds, conditions being controlled so that (1) only partial regeneration of catalyst particles or conversion of coke particles occurs in the first zone, and (2) there is no major evolution of heat from either zone.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for pyrolysis of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in which the feedstock is counter-currently contacted with a hot hydrogenating gas stream flowing spirally from the periphery of a substantially circular reactor (1). The hydrocarbon feedstock is injected through an inlet (4) located toward the center of reactor (1). The hot hydrogenating gas is preferably formed by combustion, using a steam-oxygen mixture injected through inlet (2), of carbonaceous by-products from the pyrolysis. Product is removed centrally through outlet (3).