Abstract: The specification discloses a spent seed recovery and regeneration process for an MHM power plant employing an alkali metal salt seed material such as potassium salt wherein the spent potassium seed in the form of potassium sulfate is collected from the flue gas and reacted with calcium hydroxide and carbon monoxide in an aqueous solution to cause the formation of calcium sulfate and potassium formate. The pH of the solution is adjusted to supress formation of formic acid and to promote precipitation of any dissolved calcium salts. The solution containing potassium formate is then employed to provide the potassium salt in the form of potassium formate or, optionally, by heating the potassium formate under oxidizing conditions to convert the potassium formate to potassium carbonate.

Abstract: A scent alarm device which includes a housing and a spray canister of an odorant, such as butyl mercaptan, supported within the housing utilizes a mechanism for intermittently dispensing odorant from the canister upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. The spray canister has a depressible release valve for releasing canister contents upon depression of the valve, and the depressing mechanism is adapted to repeatedly depress the canister release valve in an intermittent fashion. The device may utilize a canister having a height within a range of canister heights, and if desired, the device may be interfaced with a number of other alarm systems, such as a smoke or heat detector or used to alert an individual that household electrical power has been shut off.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the polymerization or copolymerization of a monomer or blend of monomers selected from the group consisting of C-10 terpenes, vinyl aromatics and C-5 dienes that comprises complexing a Lewis acid with an organic ketone to produce a catalyst complex. The monomer or blend of monomers is added to the catalyst complex producing the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature of between 10.degree. C. and 60.degree. C. and, when the reaction is complete, is quenched with water. The polymerized or copolymerized resin is then recovered.

Abstract: A pollutant-controlling combustor assembly for use with a fuel-burning room heater includes at least two combustors through which gaseous combustion products are routed before being discharged into the atmosphere. Each combustor has a downstream side through which combustion products exit the combustor, and the combustors are arranged so that the downstream side of each combustor is fully exposed to the downstream side of every other combustor in the assembly. In addition, the downstream sides of the combustors are positioned about a common space so that combustion products which exit the downstream sides of the combustors enter the common space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the manufacture of surgical sponges defined by a sponge body with at least a segment of a string, preferably containing a material opaque to x-rays, joined to the sponge body. The apparatus provides for the manufacture of the surgical sponges in an automatic manner and continuous manner by feeding a length of the string from a string supply and an end portion of sponge from a supply of sponge in directions substantially ninety-degrees to one another to an area of intersection area where a segment of the string overlies the sponge at a selected distance from the end thereof remote to the supply of sponge. The string segment is joined to the sponge, preferably by an ultrasonic welding mechanism. The sponge end containing the joined string is then severed at a preselected location depending upon the width of sponge body desired.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a conveyor roller tube for a belt conveyor or the like about a fixed shaft includes a housing to which a roller tube is attached, an end cover positioned on the fixed shaft adjacent one side of the housing, and a bearing interposed between the housing and end cover permitting rotation of the housing relative to the end cover. The housing and end cover cooperate with the bearing in a manner facilitating the assembly of the bearing assembly and preventing axial shifting of the assembly components relative to one another when assembled.

Abstract: The invention is directed to radially collapsible tire building drum assembly which is provided with heavy undercut bead assemblies for the fabrication of tire carcasses, particularly those of multiple bead construction as utilized in high profile tires such as required for heavy trucks, earth movers, and aircraft. The foldable bead ring assembly of the present invention is provided with a plurality of circumferential or arcuate ring segments each supported by a drum segment. In the preferred embodiment, alternately disposed ring segments are provided with pivotable end sections which are pivoted out of the way during the drum collapsing operation to provide recesses for receiving outer end portions of adjacent ring segments. Simultaneously, with this reception of the outer end portions of the adjacent ring segments in the recesses the pivoted end sections are received in receptacles behind the adjacent bead ring segments.

Abstract: Systems for the on-line optical measurement of properties of a translucent moving web, such as paper or plastic, as it is continually produced, colored or otherwise converted. Measured properties include color, reflectance and opacity. A backing roll has a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical surface which comprises at least one optical standard. The roll is positioned such that a circumferential portion of the roll surface contacts the back web surface where the web characteristic is to be measured, with the web curving around the circumferential portion. An optical sensing device is positioned so as to view the front web surface backed by the optical standard or standards. In several embodiments, two sets of reflectance data are collected, one with a "white" optical standard backing and the other with a "black" optical standard backing.

Abstract: A system for supporting camouflage around a hunter situated in a tree utilizes a clamp assembly for supporting the camouflage in a stationary relationship with the tree. The clamp assembly is particularly well-suited for clamping branches about a tree stand and accommodates an adjustment in position of the clamped branches relative to the tree stand.

Abstract: A carpet sample display rack having a support stand and divider units for supporting carpet samples positioned edgewise upon the stand utilizes linear and parallel U-shaped channels arranged so as to provide a guideway along which the divider units are slidably positioned. The channels capture the divider units in a manner which resists separation of the divider units from the stand and facilitates assembly of the rack.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a conveyor roller tube for a belt conveyor or the like about a fixed shaft which includes a housing to which a roller tube is attached, an end cover positioned on the fixed shaft adjacent one side of the housing, and a bearing interposed between the housing and end cover permitting rotation of the housing relative to the end cover. The end cover completely covers the end of the shaft about which it is positioned and cooperates with the housing for effectively protecting the bearing from exposure to contaminants. During conveyor operation, the end cover prevents migration of contaminants along the shaft from the end thereof and the housing centrifugally expels contaminants which may enter the space between the housing and the end cover. In addition, the housing, bearing end cover, and shaft cooperate to limit axial shifting of the assembly components relative to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for processing a sheet material, for e.g. a photosensitive sheet material, with a flowable process substance. The flowable process substance is distributed via a pliable web which has defined on one of its surfaces a plurality of protrusions which define interconnected fluid reservoirs and distribution channels, and which are in surface-to-surface contact with the sheet material over a substantial portion its surface area while the sheet material is transported relative to such web.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aerobic exercise device for exercising, conditioning, and toning body muscles. The aerobic device is formed of elongated tube sections joined together by a cylindrical, centrally located tension spring mechanism. A movable rod is contained within the tube sections and selectively displaced past a detent mechanism into or out of the cylindrical spring mechanism so as to respectively render the spring mechanism inoperable or operable. With the spring mechanism inoperable, the elongated tube sections and the spring mechanism form a rigid bar for exercising. On the other hand, when the spring mechanism is operable the tube sections can be forcibly pivoted about a central pivot point provided by the spring mechanism for muscle exercising. The preferred device is of sufficient length as permits the selective extension of the user's arms to their fully extended positions laterally from the body.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for detecting electromagnetic waves or signals over a board frequency range includes a receiver, associated antennas and a carrying case within which the receiver and antennas are contained. The carrying case includes first and second side portions and a carrier board which are hingedly connected together for movement between a condition for storage and a condition for use at which the carrier board is positioned remote of the first case side portion. The antennas are mounted upon the carrier board, and the receiver is mounted within the first side portion of the case so that when the assembly is opened for use, the antennas are supported by the case remote of the receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for photon scanning tunneling microscopy for examining a sample in a sample area on a surface at a subwavelength resolution is disclosed. The method comprises generating a near-field of photons at a surface containing a sample area. The near-field has an area that is larger than the sample area, and the near-field has an exponentially increasing intensity in a direction perpendicular to and towards the surface. The near-field is sampled with a probe which receives photons from that near-field that tunnel from the surface to the probe. The received photons are detected and a detector produces an output signal that is proportional to the number of photons received by the probe. The sample area is scanned with the probe in at least one direction parallel to the surface. While scanning, the probe may be maintained either at a position of a constant near-field intensity or at a position of constant distance from the surface.

Abstract: A system for the removal of sulfur compounds from the flue gas from a high-sulfur coal combustion unit. The flue gas is contacted with a combination of a calcium hydroxide slurry and gaseous ammonia in a combined stoichiometric ratio which provides for near 100% utilization of the calcium hydroxide and ammonia with a sulfur dioxide removal efficiency approaching 100%. The system is useful in treating flue gas from high-sulfur coal combustion to remove the sulfur dioxide therefrom so that the flue gas can be exhausted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A paper useful in ion deposition printing. The paper comprises a base sheet or web to which there is applied a coating of a material selected from a group that is at least partially soluble with the binders of the toner employed in the printing process under the conditions of pressure and temperature at which such toner is transferred to the paper in the course of such printing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering constituents and/or heat energy from a fluidized bed combustion process utilizes a single vessel which combines a combustor for fluidized bed combustion of a chemical mixture fed therein and a heat exchange section. Characteristics of the fluidized bed are controlled by withdrawing an appropriate portion of the larger, unburned constituent particles from the bottom of the combustor, and smaller constituent particles are withdrawn by becoming entrained within the gases of combustion and being transported to the heat exchange section. The smaller particles are separated from the gases without the use of a cyclone separator and accumulate as another fluidized bed in the heat exchange section where heat is adsorbed from the particles for recovery purposes and to cool the particles. A portion of the cooled particles is then recirculated to the combustor by, for example, pneumatic transport methods for controlling the operating temperature of the combustion process.

Abstract: A guide device securable to a hand-held router facilitates the guiding of the router across a thin workpiece so that the rotatable cutting tool of the router severs the workpiece along a prescribed cutting path and so that the prescribed cutting path corresponds with an edge of an object underlying the workpiece. The guide device includes a platen body which moves between the workpiece and the underlying object as the router is moved across the workpiece, and the body includes a lengthy abutment surface positionable in abutting engagement with the edge of the underlying object. When moving the router across the workpiece while maintaining the abutment surface in abutting relationship with the edge of the underlying object, the cutting tool of the router moves in cutting engagement with the workpiece along the prescribed cutting path.