Abstract: A paintbrush has a handle separable from a bristle head so that different bristle heads may easily be interchanged for different painting applications or used without a handle. The handle is also hollow and stores a sash brush for detail use. A cleaning wand is provided to clean the handle cavity for storing the said brush.

Abstract: A glove having a string knit body has a leather palm which is assembled to the string knit body with a narrow band of fabric secured at its edges to the string knit body and the leather palm. Seams are turned inside the glove but outside the string knit body and the narrow band of fabric spaces the leather from the string knit body to improve comfort.

Abstract: A new start-up operation of a continuous caster is monitored by comparing itself with the normal start-up operation, which is benchmarked by a multivariate statistical model using selected historical operation data. If the new operation is statistically different from the benchmark, then alarms are generated to indicate an impending start cast breakout and at the same time, the process variables that lead to process excursions from the normal operation are identified as the most likely root causes of the predicted breakout. The model is built using Mult-way Principal Component Analysis technology to characterize the operation-to-operation variance in a reduced dimensional space (also known as latent variable space) based on a large number of process trajectories from past normal start-up operations. The process trajectories over the entire start cast duration are predicted based on the current observations.

Abstract: A razor has an elongate handle body with a shaving head at one end, the other end of the handle body as a body cavity for receiving a trimming wand with a smaller blade than the shaving head. The trimming wand is normally concealed by the razor body but can be selectively exposed for use by sliding the trimming wand, along the razor body, pivoting the trimming wand, or separating the razor body into components which expose the trimming wand.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce water that will meet the specifications of the United States Pharmacopeia Inc. for Purified Water and Water for Injection, and water for dialysis as circumscribed by the American Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The system has no storage tanks where stagnant water will be fouled by biofilm colonizing the tank surface. Water is circulated throughout the purification system and drawn as required, on demand. The water is purified and used immediately or recycled and repurified to ensure quality. Sanitation of the purification system, maintaining microbiological purity and cleaning is done by controlling the pH so that it is normally acidic by maintaining a high carbon dioxide concentration in solution, the carbon dioxide being allowed to pass into the permeate from a reverse osmosis membrane assembly used to purify the water.

Abstract: A prop assembly for temporarily supporting a closure panel in an extended position removed from a body opening has a rigid elongated prop which has one end hinged to either a closure hinge coupling the closure panel to the body or directly to the closure panel. The other end of the prop slides in a guide slot formed in a bracket mounted to the body and is captured in a detent formed in a proximal end of the guide slot to retain the closure panel in the extended position. The prop assembly allows an operator to move the closure panel to an extended position which is secure with a single motion using only one hand.

Abstract: A real-time system and method for online monitoring a transient operation in a continuous casting process. The transient operation refers to, but is not limited to, submerged entry nozzle changes, flying tundish changes, product grade changes, etc. This invention treats the aforementioned transient operations as batch processes and utilizes multiway principal component analysis to develop a multivariate statistical model to characterize normal process transitions based on carefully selected historical process data. Such a model is used by an online monitoring system to determine if a continuous caster transient operation is normal. This monitoring system can further be used to predict an impending breakout, one type of catastrophic process failures which may occur in a continuous casting process, during the transient operation.

Abstract: A water filtration system incorporating a fluid flow meter has a modular turbine casing assembly in which a turbine is located between upstream and downstream casing elements of identical shape and formed to be stacked so as to trap the turbine in between. The turbine is magnetized and rotation of the turbine is monitored electronically with a reed switch having a lead wire which is positioned proximate to the turbine to sense fluctuations in a magnetic field created by the turbine on rotation of the turbine. The reed switch housing itself is disposed at a location remote from the turbine. The system further includes processor for calculating an adjusted accumulated count data for low volumetric flow rates which are less than a predetermined threshold value. Advantageously, the invention can be used to reliably measure very low flow rates with very little power drawn.

Abstract: A vibration damping roll is provided for rolling contact with a vibrating structure. The vibration damping roll incorporates a wave guide consisting of radially alternating rigid and flexible material having at least two rigid elements disposed adjacent to flexible material and may be provided in the form of a layered structure, a spiral structure, or a plurality of discrete rigid elements disposed in a matrix of flexible material.

Abstract: Suspension system for a bicycle has a damper assembly coupled to a first portion of the bicycle relatively movable to a second portion of the bicycle and includes a hydraulic damper made of polyurethane material. The damper assembly has an outer casing from which extends an arm for applying a torque to the damper. The arm may be segmented or include a series of apertures for coupling to the second portion of the cycle so that the effective length of the arm and the torque applied to the damper can be adjusted to suit the rider's requirements. A link couples the arm to the second portion of the bicycle and the link maybe adjustable in length so that the bicycle geometry can be adjusted.

Abstract: A donut shaped soap body has a special effect cartridge which emits sound and light triggered by movement of the soap bar or by wetting of the soap bar. The special effect cartridge has a sealed chamber and light support for backlighting an image and an open acoustic chamber for housing a miniature loudspeaker.

Abstract: A dispenser for a safety throw rope is made from a rigid hollow body that defines a cavity having a bung hole at one end and a looped hollow handle portion at another end spaced from the bung hole. A length of rope is received in the cavity and is coupled to a closure assembly for closing the bung hole. The other end of the rope is looped around the handle portion inside the cavity and coupled to the handle portion so that the body may be thrown and the rope will pay out of the bung hole in a rescue situation.