Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for minimizing the effects of metamerism between a set of color standards (e.g., nitrocellulose lacquers) and inkjet printed color merchandise (e.g., paint chips) under a plurality of illuminants, including a balanced illuminant that emulates lighting conditions between cool (6500 K) and warm (2856 K) color temperatures. For each color standard, one selects an ink combination that best produces color merchandise having a minimal degree of metamerism. Innovatively, a combination of instrumental and visual tests is used to evaluate color difference for a set of color standards-color merchandise pairs under a plurality of illuminants. If a color standard-color merchandise pair fails either test then the ink combination may be adjusted.

Abstract: In the case of a control system (1) for a plurality of consumers (10) arranged in a distributed manner, in particular for lamp operating devices, having at least one command generator (5), a control line (2) which connects the command generator (5) with each consumer (10) and associated with each consumer (10) a transmission and reception unit (11) provided for communication with the command generator (5), an operating address is allocated to each consumer (10) via which the consumer (10) can be contacted by the command generator (5). In accordance with the invention there is associated with each consumer (10) a memory element (20), separate from the consumer (10), for storing the operating address, wherein the memory element (20) is connected with the associated consumer (10) via the control line (2).

Abstract: A hydrocarbon synthesis process (10) includes feeding gaseous reactants (18) into a slurry bed (14), allowing the gaseous reactants (18) to react catalytically, thereby to form liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products, and subjecting a product mixture comprising liquid product and catalyst particles in a filtration stage to filtration, by passing the liquid product through a filtering medium (30) to separate catalyst particles from the liquid product. The gaseous products are withdrawn (23) and cooled to form a multi-phase product which is separated to produce at least a hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) and a tail-gas stream (84). At least a portion of the hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) is treated (96) to remove oxygenated components therefrom, producing a backflush condensate. From time to time, the filtering medium (30) of the filtration stage is backflushed by passing the backflush condensate through the filtering medium (30).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a textured floorcovering composite comprising a highly conformable fibrous outer layer 101 and an optional porous and resilient backing layer 102 that are continually, contiguously, or continuously attached to an activated adhesive layer 103 along a three-dimensional, undulating interface. The undulations correspond to depressed and elevated areas on the surface of the composite. Such a composite can be fabricated if its precursor is subjected to heat and pressure for a finite length time, provided that the applied pressure is relatively low, preferably under about 200 psi. The textured composite can be used as a floorcovering that advantageously resists warping and remains insensitive to variations in ambient temperature and humidity, including exposure to water.

Abstract: A gas-generating apparatus (10) includes a reaction chamber (18) containing a solid fuel component (24) and a liquid fuel component (22) that is introduced into the reaction chamber by a fluid path, such as a tube, nozzle, or valve. The flow of the liquid fuel to the solid fuel is self-regulated. Other embodiments of the gas-generating apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable thermography camera system (100) renders a video image of a survey scene over a narrow spectral bandwidth corresponding with an absorption band of a gas to be detected in the video image. The camera system forms a scene image onto a focal plane array (108) and generates a corrected image signal (162) corresponding with irradiance values at a plurality of locations of the scene image. The camera system further generates a temporally filtered image signal (168) corresponding with a temporal characteristics of the image signal (162) over a selected number of prior image frames. A difference block (166) reduces the temporally filtered image signal (168) by a scaling factor and produces a difference image by subtracting the scaled temporally filtered image signal from the corrected image signal (162). The displayed difference signal improves the visibility of the gas to be detected.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a gas displacing piston (362) movable within a gas expander cylinder (364). The volume of a gas expansion space (362) is varied as the gas displacing piston (362) is moved over an expansion stroke range. The device includes a compression spring (622) disposed to bias the gas displacing piston (362) toward a compression stroke top end position (85). A cable element (606) extends into the gas expansion cylinder (364) and attaches to the gas displacing piston (362). A motive drive device (302) applies a tensioning force to the cable (606) and the tension force opposes the spring biasing force and moves the gas displacing piston (362) to a compression stroke bottom end position (83).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical fiber 10 comprising a substantially pure silica glass core 12, a concentric tin-doped core/cladding interface region 14, and a concentric fluorine-doped depressed cladding layer 16. The tin-doped core/cladding interface region 14 comprises a low concentration gradient of tin dioxide, which advantageously results in a de minimis refractive index change, resistance to hydrogen incursion, and thermal stability of any fiber Bragg gratings written into the interface region 14.

Abstract: An optical inclination sensor is provided having at least one reflective surface and at least two separate optical fibers having ends spaced from a reflective surface. As the reflective surface tilts with respect to a pre-determined reference position the gap lengths between the fiber ends and the reflective surface change and the differences in these gap lengths is used to calculate an angle of inclination with respect to a reference position. The optical inclination sensor can include at least one mass attached to a housing and moveable with respect to the housing as the mass and housing are rotated about one or more axes. Optical strain sensors are disposed a various locations between the mass and housing so that as the mass moves with respect to the housing, each one of the optical strain sensors are placed in compression or tension. The housing can be a generally u-shaped housing having two arms and a base section with the mass disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A mobile cleaning plant for cleaning shopping trolleys and similar transport systems includes a container configured to receive the shopping trolleys in hoxizontally stacked rows. The shopping trolleys are fed into an inlet on the container via a device, automatically pushed through the container on a conveyor system, and exit the container through an outlet positioned near the inlet. The conveyor system includes two tracks which run along the longitudinal axis of the container and are connected to each other via a third track which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. As the inlet and outlet are positioned in proximity to one another, or are the same orifice, the mobile cleaning plant does not require decoupling from a hauling device, such as a truck, prior to operation.

Abstract: An optical fiber extends down hole from an OFDR. A first set of sensors with a centrally-located reference reflector is disposed over a first fiber length, and a second set of sensors with a centrally-located reference reflector is disposed over a second fiber length. The sensors of the first and second sensing lengths are positioned at slightly offset positions from the reference reflectors so as to interleave the reflected signals. Additional sensing lengths may be similarly interleaved. The system is used by sending an optical signal along the optical fiber, detecting a reflected optical signal, separating the optical signal into component signals, and extrapolating a well condition therefrom. Another method includes creating a low frequency signal component in a reflected optical signal by placing at least one sensor beyond a Nyquist sampling distance limit, detecting the low frequency signal component, and extrapolating a well condition therefrom.