Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic clay cannisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic clay and detected by the embedded probe in selected cannisters. The water will pass through the clay and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic clay will become “spent” and at a certain “spent level”, the saturated condition of the organoclay will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel. The alarm indicates that the “spent” organophilic clay should be replaced with fresh clay or the spent clay regenerated.

Abstract: The apparatus provides feedback training of the proper base support during gait therapy of patients with neurological disorders. The apparatus produces recognizable by the user signals in response to change in distance between legs of the user or between the body of the user and an assisstive device. The apparatus is adjustable to desire distance between two legs or a distance between an assisstive device and the user's body, and to a particular exercise protocol.

Abstract: Electromagnetic actuator including a mobile magnetic member made up of stacked ferromagnetic plates and two fixed electromagnets for reciprocating the mobile magnetic member along a central axis. The ferromagnetic plates each have two opposite edges parallel to the central axis which are crimped to two rigid transverse strips. Elastomer bodies join each transverse strip to a fixed spacer.

Abstract: A device for directing a primary particle beam at a sample and detecting particles in accordance with the emergence of particles from the sample. The device comprises a source for generating the primary beam and a passage leading from the source to the sample. It has one end towards the source and a second end towards the sample and, alongside the passage, is placed a particle detector having a face for receiving particles to be detected. At the first end of the passage is placed a cover suitable for generating secondary electrodes, which has a central aperture for admitting the primary beam. The particle detector is orientated with the face for receiving particles towards the cover.

Abstract: A tuning head for use with a variable capacitor includes a coupler having a gap, a first optical fiber operatively coupled to the coupler, and a second optical fiber operatively coupled to the coupler. The first and second optical fibers are optically coupled across the gap when the gap is not obstructed. The tuning head further includes an obstruction member that is movable with respect to the coupler and is adapted to fit within the gap to selectively obstruct said optical coupling of said first and second optical fibers. A movement mechanism is also provided to create relative motion between said obstruction member and said coupler.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing the quality of a seed lot utilizes image analysis equipment to generate an indication of seed quality. In one method, the quality of the seed lot may be determined by generating an image of a plurality of seedlings grown from a plurality of seeds selected from the seed lot, determining the leaf surface area of each of the seedlings from the image, determining the total leaf surface area of the seedlings from the image, determining a surface area threshold relating to the leaf surface areas of a plurality of the seedlings, determining the proportion of the seedlings which have a leaf surface area that exceeds the surface area threshold, and generating an indication of seed quality based upon that proportion.

Abstract: A method of determining a quantity of amorphous SiC2-containing impurities in a montmorillonite clay sample comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing the clay sample to determine the weight percent of SiO2 contained in the clay sample; (b) analyzing the clay sample for non-montmorillonite SiO2-containing crystalline components; (c) calculating the weight percent of SiO2 from step (a) that is derived from the montmorillonite and amorphous SiQ2-containing impurities by lowering the weight percent of SiO2 in step (a) based on the non-montmorillonite SiO2-containing crystalline impurities found in step (b); and (d) determining the amorphous SiO2-containing impurity portion of the SiO2 calculated in step (c) by further lowering the amount of SiO2 from step (c) until the amount of montmorillonite-derived SiO2 is consistent with one or more properties of the clay sample, the amount of further lowering being proportional to an amount of amorphous SiO2-containing impurities contained in the clay sample.

Abstract: Multicomponent superabsorbent gel particles are disclosed. The multicomponent particles comprise at least one acidic water-absorbing resin and at least one basic water-absorbing resin. Each particle contains at least one microdomain of the acidic resin in contact with, or in close proximity to, at least one microdomain of the basic resin.

Abstract: An AC to DC to AC converter has an input to receive input AC, a rectifier to rectify the input AC to DC, and an inverter to invert the DC to output AC. A load sensor senses load on the AC to DC to AC converter. A fan directs a cooling fluid to the AC to DC to AC converter. A fan control has an input coupled to the AC to DC to AC converter so as to receive DC therefrom, an input coupled to the load sensor, and an output coupled to the fan. The fan control controls the fan at a variable speed in response to load on the AC to DC to AC converter so as to vary the cooling fluid delivered by the fan to the AC to DC to AC converter.

Abstract: Fibers, preferably electret fibers, made of materials which contain predominantly fiber-forming polymer or polycondensate, with a preparation applied onto the fibers, where the applied preparation contains at least one active substance which has volatilized after a time period of 20 minutes at a temperature of at most 250° C., preferably at most 230° C., to at least 80 weight % are disclosed. The active substance is preferably a compound having the general formula (I) R1R2R3NO  (I) where R1 is hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted C1-C30 alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl group, and R2 and R3, independently of one another, are hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C10 alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl groups.

Abstract: An adjustable cutting bar having a pair of cutting blades for use on a rotary press folding machine includes a rotatable shaft supported on a frame, a first cutting blade secured to the shaft for common rotation therewith, and a second cutting blade rotatably mounted to the shaft to permit circumferential rotation of the second cutting blade relative to the first cutting blade. A drive system is operatively connected to the first and second cutting blades for rotating the first and second cutting blades at a common peripheral speed.

Abstract: Intercalated layered materials prepared by co-intercalation of an onium ion and MXD6 nylon between the planar layers of a swellable layered material, such as a phyllosilicate, preferably a smectite clay. The spacing of adjacent layers of the layered materials is expanded at least about 3 Å, preferably at least about 5 Å, usually preferably to a d-spacing of about 15-20 Å, e.g., 18 Å with the onium ion spacing/coupling agent. The intercalation of the MXD6 nylon polymer then increases the spacing of adjacent layers an additional at least 3 Å, e.g., to at least about 20 Å, preferably about 25 Å to about 30 Å, generally about 28 Å.

Abstract: A process for the selective passivation of the channel walls of a channelled ink-jet printhead component by the chemical vapor deposition of a passivant coating, the process comprising mounting the component in a support in registration with a datum location therein, the support having masking means for masking selected areas of the component, and depositing the passivant coating on unmasked portions of the channel walls.

Abstract: A release coating composition containing about 50 to about 75 wt. % of an epoxy functional silicone; about 8 to about 25 wt. % of a reactive solvent; about 5 to about 25 wt. % of a reactive diluent; about 6 to about 12 wt. % of a wax-treated silica powder; and, about 2 to about 4 wt. % of a photoinitiator is disclosed. The composition is useful in preparing a low-gloss release coating for use on linerless labels.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the lateral position of at least one part of a moving machine for constructing a structure on a terrain includes a measuring device, at least one sensor, a positioning system and a computer adapted to determine theoretical and actual transverse positions of the part of the machine and to command the positioning system in such manner as to render the theoretical and actual transverse positions coincident.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic mechanical compound transmission comprising a transmission input shaft (E), a transmission output shaft (A), a hydrodynamic transmission part (2) and a mechanical transmission part (4). Said mechanical transmission part (4) comprises at least one speed/torque conversion device (5). The output of the mechanical speed/torque converter (5) is at least indirectly drive-connected to the transmission output shaft (1). According to the invention, the hydrodynamic retarder (25) which comprises a stator (26) and a rotor blade wheel (27) is spatially integrated in the transmission housing (11). In addition, the rotor blade wheel (27) of the hydrodynamic retarder (25) is at least indirectly coupled to the output shaft (A) of the mechanical speed/torque converter (5). The hydrodynamic retarder (25) functions as a secondary retarder, however, it is spatially arranged in the transmission before the downstream stage (6).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a receptacle with an interior, a motor assembly that draws air from the interior of the receptacle, an inlet on the receptacle wherein the inlet receives vacuumed material, and an opening on the receptacle in air flow communication with the interior of the receptacle. The vacuum cleaner also includes a dust pan that opens and closes the opening. The dust pan may be used for collecting large and small debris, liquids, and any other objects that cannot or should not enter the inlet.

Abstract: A mechanism for clamping and holding an elongated workpiece in a machine includes a fixed support, and a longitudinally extending conveyor for supporting the workpiece relative to support. A pair of longitudinally extending clamping members are slidably mounted on the support and are retrained for transverse movement relative to the conveyor. A camming mechanism is actuated by power cylinders to move the clamping members into clamping engagement with opposite sides of the workpiece.

Abstract: A marking instrument includes a barrel, a marking tip and a marking fluid reservoir disposed in the barrel, a retraction mechanism to move the marking tip from an operable position to a retracted position through an opening in the barrel, and a seal to close off the marking tip from the barrel opening when the marking tip is retracted. The seal is toroidal in shape, which allows the seal to close upon itself, thereby eliminating any need for additional manipulation or outside forces to close the seal. The marking tip, marking fluid reservoir and seal are replaceable so that each can be replaced when they become worn or inoperable.