Abstract: A cylindrical casing (18) has first and second ends (33 and 31), the first end (33) being closed. The casing (18) encloses an accelerant (22) disposed adjacent the first end (33), at least one stemming mechanism (21), and a fuse (14 or 14?) extending from the accelerant (22) out of the second end (31) of the cylindrical casing (18). The cartridge (12) is made of a rupturable cylindrical casing (18) with accelerant (22) and self-stemming mechanism (22) inserted therein. A method of breaking hard (R) materials involves detonating a self-stemming cartridge (12) disposed in a borehole (B).

Abstract: A method and system for managing inventory information by a host company forming an inventory based information network having multiple tiers of access with at least one host server and at least one remote company user. The host server has an interactive inventory listing, manages remote company user access to the inventory listings, and enables remote access to the host server for the remote company user to create and manage inventory listings. The interactive inventory listing builder creates a new inventory listing, generates an associated unique listing code, and adds a photo file and text data. The method generates interactive advertisements and websites. The interactive advertisement builder creates a new advertisement, chooses a target media outlet, inserts the inventory listing, and generates and saves advertisement. The interactive website builder allows a user to select a template, add object files, choose domain names, and save the website.

Abstract: Process and apparatus to form vinyl chloride monomer from ethylene dichloride in a cracking furnace, including a firebox chamber having a thermal protective layer disposed on refractory walls and/or process tubes disposed within the chamber, a quencher to form vinyl chloride monomer, and fractionator separate products. The thermal protective layer which contains an inorganic adhesive for metal/alloy tubes or colloidal silica and/or colloidal alumina for refractory walls or ceramic tubes, a filler, and one or more emissivity agents.

Abstract: A tool (12) has a body (14) having an opening (16) forming a barrel (18) which has a top and a bottom (20 and 22), an opening (30) at the bottom (22), and a pressure input (44) for fluid communication. The barrel (18) receives a piston (24) and a magnet (23) which is contiguous with the pressure input (44). An actuator pin tube (26) is received in the opening (30) at the bottom (22) of the barrel (18), and an actuator pin (38) is engaged in the tube (26). A second opening (28) may be disposed in the top (20). A kit (110) containing the tool (12), hose (94), cartridges (84) and a pump (P). A method for using the tool (12) is also contemplated hereby. Multiple tools (12) may be detonated at the same time by hooking them up to a manifold (95 or 95?).

Abstract: A roller device has a handle with two arms extending from one end of a handgrip and a roller which is cylindrical having a surface composed of a spongy material, and two ends having an opening through the center of each end. The arms have ends which rotatably engage one opposing opening of the roller. The roller may have an inner part and an outer part with a spongy material on the surface of the outer part, or the entire outer part may be a spongy material. A method of using the roller device involves placing the roller on a leg above a top incision, rolling the device down the leg while applying moderate pressure, forcing fluids down and out a lower incision, wiping off the fluid, observing for additional fluid build up, and repeating the procedure until no further build up is observed.

Abstract: A method for production of lactic acid involving extracting protein from a natural renewable feedstock, preferably extracted from lignocellulose sources such as soybean hull, separating the feedstock into liquid and solid substrate feedstock, steam exploding the solid substrate feedstock by placing the solid feedstock in a pressure chamber, pressurizing the steam chamber with saturated steam, maintaining the pressure until the solid feedstock reaches temperatures in excess of the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure, and explosively decompressing the pressure to a pressure no greater than atmospheric pressure. Hydrolyzing the steam-exploded feedstock by either acid hydrolysis or enzyme hydrolysis, and fermenting the resulting hydrolyzed feedstock to produce lactic acid. The hydrolyzing and fermenting steps may be carried out simultaneously, followed by recovering the lactate from the resultant material.

Abstract: A tool (12) has a body (14) with a barrel (18) having opposing threaded and fitted openings (30 and 28). An actuator pin tube (26), for slidably engaging an actuator pin (38) having a tip (40) opposing a retention head (42), extending from the fitted opening (30). A spring assembly (24), disposed in the barrel (18), has a hammer guide (44) engaged in the threaded opening (28) with a hammer (46) slidably engaged therein, a handle mechanism (55) disposed at one end and a spring retainer (52) disposed adjacent the other end of the hammer (46) before a hammerhead (51), and a spring (54) engaged between the hammer guide (44) and the spring retainer (52). A release mechanism (56) engages the hammer (46). A kit (108) containing the tool (12) and a method of operating the tool (12) involving drilling and cleaning a borehole, inserting a cartridge and tool therein, and detonating the load remotely using a pull cord.

Abstract: A soap holder has a flat base with a plurality of openings in the base and sides extending upwards from the base. The sides may have a plurality of teeth formed therein. The teeth may taper outward from the sides. A lip may extend from the base opposite the sides, and may have indentions therein. The soap holder may be made of stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic, glass, plastic or porcelain, and be of a single formed piece. The base of the soap holder may have a uniform geometric shape, such as a circular or triangular shape.

Abstract: A converter has a transformer with primary and secondary windings each having n coils in a series-series arrangement connected to primary and secondary sides. The primary side has n primary legs each having a top switch and a bottom switch and connected to the primary winding therebetween. The secondary side has n secondary legs, each secondary leg has a synchronous rectifier switch and an output filter inductor connected to the secondary winding therebetween. A complimentary control for the primary side comprising a gate driver transformer with primary winding in series with a DC blocking capacitor connected to a drain and a source of the top switch of each primary leg, and a gate drive transformer, for each primary leg, with secondary winding containing a leakage inductor and in series with a DC blocking capacitor and a damping resistor connected to gate and source of the secondary side synchronous rectifier.

Abstract: A coating admixture, method of coating and substrates coated thereby, wherein the coating contains colloidal silica, colloidal alumina, or combinations thereof; a filler such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and boron oxide; and one or more emissivity agents such as silicon hexaboride, carbon tetraboride, silicon tetraboride, silicon carbide, molybdenum disilicide, tungsten disilicide, zirconium diboride, cupric chromite, or metallic oxides such as iron oxides, magnesium oxides, manganese oxides, chromium oxides, copper chromium oxides, cerium oxides, terbium oxides, and derivatives thereof. In a coating solution, an admixture of the coating contains water. A stabilizer such as bentonite, kaolin, magnesium alumina silicon clay, tabular alumina and stabilized zirconium oxide is also added.