Abstract: The present invention is for a method of regenerating diluted brine containing hardness from a water softening process. The process includes the steps of contacting the diluted brine with a weak acid ion exchange resin to remove the hardness from the brine and evaporating part of the water from the brine using heat from a production casing gas. The production casing gas comes from a producing oil well of a steam injection secondary oil recovery process. The regenerated brine can then be used to regenerate further quantities of strong acid resin which are used to soften water. The softened water can be used for making steam for use in a steam injection secondary oil recovery process.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a substrate with an alumina hydrate film includes a coating vessel having at least one support therein; the substrate to be coated is mounted on the support; and at least one porous or perforated container for holding aluminum metal to react with a caustic solution to form an aluminate coating solution is also mounted on the support. The apparatus can also contain means for mechanical agitation, such as a rotational stirring device. In the coating of the substrate a caustic solution is contacted with a substrate and with at least one porous container having aluminum metal therein. The aluminum metal reacts with the caustic solution to form an aluminate coating solution and then an alumina hydrate film is deposited on the substrate. The caustic solution is preferably subjected to mechanical agitation during the coating process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating at least one substrate with an alumina hydrate film includes a coating vessel for containing a caustic coating solution, and at least one support within the coating vessel upon which are mounted substrates and porous containers. The porous containers hold aluminum metal for reacting with the caustic coating solution. A partition is situated between the porous containers and the substrates, which partition separates the gas bubbles produced by the reaction of the aluminum metal and the caustic coating solution from the substrates and which partition prevents the gas bubbles from contacting the substrates.

Abstract: A method of forming a catalytic article includes the steps of contacting a substrate with a coating solution of an alkali aluminate for a period of time sufficient to form a film of alumina on the substrate; forming a slurry of a catalytic material, a particulate calcined alumina and a liquid carrier; contacting the film of alumina with the slurry so as to coat the alumina film with the slurry; and then calcining the slurry coated alumina film to form the catalytic article. A binder is preferably used in the slurry and the preferred catalytic material useful in the method includes those from group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Abstract: An alumina catalyst, which has a desired porosity and surface area and is stable at high temperatures is formed by contacting a substrate with an alkali aluminate solution for a period of time sufficient to form an adherent film of hydrated alumina on the substrate, separating the substrate with the adherent film of hydrated alumina from the solution, heating the substrate and alumina film under calcining conditions until an alumina film of desired porosity and surface area is formed, and then contacting the calcined alumina film with a material which stabilizes the alumina during subsequent heating. Optionally, the alumina film can then be further calcined at a temperature higher than that used in the first calcining conditions, preferably at a temperature up to about 1260.degree. C. The stabilizing material can be one of several compounds including those of barium, silcon, and the rare earth metals.

Abstract: A low foaming lubricating oil composition comprising a mineral oil, an oil soluble detergent-like additive which increases the foaming tendency of the lubricating oil, and an effective amount of an estolide of a hydroxy fatty acid having 10 to 24 carbon atoms which reduces the foaming tendency of the lubricating oil composition. The lubricating oil achieves the low foaming tendency without added silicone polymers and has a silicon content of less than about 10 parts per million by weight. The preferred estolide is the estolide of 12-hydroxystearic acid.

Abstract: A cylinder lubricating oil composition characterized by having a Total Base Number from about 50 to 100 comprising a mineral lubricating oil, from 10 to 20 percent of an overbased calcium sulfonate and an N-hydroxyethyl alkenylsuccinimide represented by the formula: ##STR1## in which R is a straight chain hydrocarbon radical having form about 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A coating solution, useful in the process of coating a substrate with an alumina film, can be formed by adding to an alkali aluminate solution a sufficient quantity of an alumina gel which is a precipitate formed by the reaction of aluminum sulfate with aqueous ammonium hydroxide at a pH of between about 6 and 8. The added alumina gel effects a coating of an adherent alumina trihydrate film on a substrate upon the contacting of the substrate with the coating solution.

Abstract: A method for separating straight chain hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon fraction having straight chain hydrocarbons, nonstraight chain hydrocarbons, and a sulfur compound, includes the steps of contacting the hydrocarbon fraction with a 5A zeolite having crystals of an average size larger than about 700 angstroms which selectively absorbs the straight chain hydrocarbons to the substantial exclusion of the nonstraight chain hydrocarbons and sulfur compound. Large zeolite crystals are found to have a much longer useful life in this separation method than zeolite crystals having an average size of less than about 700 angstroms as measured along one edge of the zeolite crystal. The hydrocarbon fraction has more than about 800 wppm total sulfur including more than about 15 wppm mercaptan.

Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of a hydrocarbon fraction having unsaturated hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds comprising the steps of contacting the hydrocarbon fraction with hydrogen gas and a fluorided platinum catalyst in the presence of an oxygen-containing hydrogenation moderator which is either water or an oxygen-containing material which is hydrogenatable to water and whose hydrogenation products will not poison the platinum catalyst. The oxygen-containing hydrogenation moderator should be present in sufficient quantity to substantially prevent the saturation of the unsaturated hydrocarbons without seriously affecting the desulfurization of the hydrocarbon fraction. A preferred oxygen-containing hydrogenation moderator is carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A battery holder comprising a drawer having a plurality of compartments, each sized to accommodate a single battery, each compartment being polarized so that a battery can be placed therein only in a predetermined position, means for electrically interconnecting the batteries, and means for connecting a user circuit to the battery holder. The battery holder can further comprise means for retaining the battery within the compartment and a circuit switch to protect the user circuit from circuit runaway.

Abstract: A solid state ambient temperature cell having a thin layer of an alkali or alkaline earth metal as anode, a thin layer of a solid ionic conductive electrolyte and a thin cathode layer of a metal or metalloid which can accommodate anode cations in the crystalline structure thereof. Such metals or metalloids include bismuth, arsenic, antimony, lead, tin, selenium or tellurium. The cell is dischargeable at high rates and is rechargeable.

Abstract: A receptacle for replaceably holding a replaceable fuse in an electrical circuit includes a forwardly inwardly tapered tubular member closed at its front end by a contact-defining metal cap and provided at its rear end with an internally threaded enlarged section, a contact-defining metal collar telescoping the rear of the tapered tube forward of the enlarged section and having a terminal tab projecting outwardly through an opening in the enlarged section. An externally threaded closure plug separably engages the tubular member threaded section and has in its front face a well whose axis is transversely offset from the plug axis and whose peripheral face is rearwardly inwardly tapered. A transversely crescent shaped wedge member projects forwardly from the well border and is integrally formed with the plug and has a tapered inside face coplanar with the well peripheral face.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell containing a decomposing electrolyte solvent, further contains small amounts of an additive material such as lithium sulfide which causes partial self discharge of the cathode of the cell with non-reactive products. The self discharge partially deactivates substantially all of the active cathode surface as a reaction site thereby reducing the decomposition of the electrolyte solvent.

Abstract: A silver oxide powder for use in the cathode of an alkaline silver oxide galvanic cell, being a mixture of at least 10% divalent silver oxide powder together with monovalent silver oxide powder, is produced by at least partially reducing the silver oxide powder mixture by reacting it with a surfactant, particularly an anionic surfactant and thereafter removing the reactant. The silver oxide powder displays a lower oxygen evolution rate when immersed in an alkaline electrolyte, and lower internal friction during powder flow under pressure when compared with a similar silver oxide mixture which is known not to have been so reacted.

Abstract: A silver oxide powder for use in the cathode of an alkaline silver oxide galvanic cell, being a mixture of at least 10% divalent silver oxide powder together with monovalent silver oxide powder, is produced by at least partially reducing the silver oxide powder mixture by reacting it with a fatty acid or a fatty acid salt and thereafter removing the reactant. The silver oxide powder displays a lower oxygen evolution rate when immersed in an alkaline electrolyte, and lower internal friction during powder flow under pressure when compared with a similar silver oxide mixture which is known not to have been so reacted.

Abstract: A one piece connector, as for a battery, comprising a connecting means having an integral bottom wall with a boss extending from the bottom wall, the boss being formed of continuous material. A connector assembly in which the said one piece connector is attached to a supporting means.

Abstract: A battery package having a casing which contains at least one electrochemical cell electrically connected to a DC to DC converter. A pair of electrical connections are located on the casing to electrically connect the battery package to a load. The converter conducts and the cell discharges only when a load is present across the electrical connection.

Abstract: A cell having an anode, a cathode, barrier means between the cathode and anode, and an electrolyte in contact with all the elements of the cell, the cathode being formed from a mixture of monovalent silver oxide and nickel. The cathode can also be formed from a mixture of monovalent silver oxide, a material such as mercuric oxide, and silver, nickel or a mixture of silver and nickel.