Abstract: To reduce the possibility of explosions, an upper fogging header having a plurality of nozzles is connected to the pulverizer and the operation of the upper fogging header, a lower fogging header and a primary duct fogging header is automated.

Abstract: An article and method for shaping a sheet of material around an object such as a flower pot, the article comprising a ring-shaped collar adapted to be secured around the object. The collar may comprise pinch rings or barbed piercing elements, disposed about the periphery of the collar for attaching the sheet of material to the collar, or the collar may be adapted to be secured around at least a portion of the object so that the sheet of material is held between the object and the collar. The article also may be used alone of shaping a sheet of material.

Abstract: A die for making a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover by forming a sheet of material into a flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover. A platform supports a female die having an opening with flat surfaces for forming panels in the base and skirt of the flower pot or flower pot cover. The sheet of material is centered over the opening of the female die. A bracket having a plurality of legs which align with the panel-forming surfaces of the female die is placed on the sheet of material. The top surface of the platform and the bracket legs frictionally control the sheet of material as a male die pushes the sheet of material into the female die. A plurality of pivoting fingers at the upper end of the female die push the sheet of material against the male die as the male die enters the opening of the female die. The sheet of material is pressed between forming surfaces of the male and female die to form the flat-paneled flower pot or flower pot cover.

Abstract: A method for making a flower pot cover by treating a sheet of material which is non-shape sustaining with a shape-sustaining wax capable of imparting dead fold characteristics and forming the treated sheet of material into a predetermined shape of a flower pot cover.

Abstract: A method for reducing the combustibility of a compatible combustible material comprising treating the material with a fire retardant composition comprising a silane and/or siloxane. The silane and/or siloxane comprises a silicon moiety, a group having fire retardant properties and a group capable of permitting chemical attachement of the composition to the material. A catalyst may be added to the composition to increase the rate of the chemical attachment of the composition to the material. The material is treated with this composition producing a fire retardant article. The composition also imparts water resistance to the treated material.

Abstract: A percutaneous access port for providing access to a selected organ in an animal which includes a base assembly and a septum assembly. The base assembly has a fluid chamber formed in a portion thereof generally between an upper and a lower end of the base assembly with an inlet port being formed in a portion in the base assembly gnerally near the lower end of the base assembly. The inlet port is adapted to be connected to the selected organ to provide communication between the fluid chamber in the base assembly and the selected organ. At least one access port is formed through the upper end of the base assembly with each access port extending a distance through the base assembly and intersecting the fluid chamber to provide communication between the upper end of the base assembly and the fluid chamber. The septum assembly includes a portion which extends across each access port in the base assembly to resealably seal each access port, each access port providing resealable access to the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A non-destructive method for determining elastic moduli of isotropic or anisotropic or homogeneous or nonhomogeneous material. The material is subjected to x-radiation for determining the density of the material at a sufficient number of discrete measurement points over the material to create an image of local material density variation. Ultrasonic waves are propagated through the material to determine transit times for each wave at points corresponding to the measurement points. Using the determined density and transit times for each of the measurement points, the elastic moduli at each measurement point is determined. The elastic moduli provides a means for analyzing the mechanical performance of the material. In one aspect, the determined elastic moduli are inputted into a finite element method code for determining mechanical response of the material.

Abstract: A sanitation system for treating a black water stream and a grey water stream. The black water stream is inputted into a black water digester wherein the black water stream is aerobically digested to produce a treated black water stream and the treated black water stream is discharged from the black water digester. The treated black water stream is inputted into a black and grey water digester and the grey water stream also is inputted into the black and grey water digester. The treated black water stream and the grey water stream are aerobically digested in the black and grey water digester to produce a treated black and grey water stream and the treated black and grey water stream is outputted from the black and grey water digester.

Abstract: A system for baling strands of material wherein a predetermined quantity of strands of material is compressed into a bale of strands of material having a density of at least about 14 pounds per cubic foot and having a substantial portion of the bale unmatted, the system being particularly useful for baling easter grass. The system includes a baler wherein the strands of material are compressed in a substantially enclosed portion of the baler to form the bale of material. In the system, a predetermined weight comprising a portion of the total desired weight of a bale of material is compressed, and additional portions are added and compressed until the total desired weight has been compressed into a bale of material.