Abstract: Oxides on the surfaces of metal are reduced by directing reducing gases at them in a forceful and turbulent manner. In a preferred version, the gas is passed through at least two reducing zones designed to maintain a higher concentration of reducing gas in at least one of them than would be the case in a single reducing zone. The oxide-bearing surface is heated at the beginning of the process.

Abstract: Oxides on the surfaces of metal are reduced by directing reducing gases at them in a forceful and turbulent manner in an enclosure. The oxide-bearing surface is heated to at least 900 degrees F.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optionally foamed sealing composition for preformed seals which can swell when treated with water. The invention also relates to a method for the production thereof out of natural rubber and/or elastomers with a matrix comprised of natural rubber/elastomer components and particle-shaped water absorbing material stored therein. The water absorbing material is a combination of (A) polysaccharide(s) selected from cellulose, starch, starch derivatives removed from grafted starch, amylose, amylopectin, dextran, pectin, inulin, chitin, xanthan, alginic acid, alginates, carrageenan, pustulan, callose, laminarin, guluronic acid, pullulan, lichenin or mixtures of the same with (B) a highly water absorbent synthetic polymer selected from polymers based on (meth)acrylate, poly(meth)acrylic acid and the salts thereof, polyacrylamide, polyalcohols or copolymers of said synthetic polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for closure of defect openings in the human or animal body, which device, in a first state, can assume an elongate shape with a high ratio of length to transverse extent, and, in the implanted state, has a shape with a lower ratio of length to transverse extent, the device being deformable in the radial direction and comprising first arrangements with which the device, in the implanted state, supports itself elastically against the margin of the opening which is to be closed and thereby centers itself approximately within the opening. The device includes second arrangements which, in the implanted state, bear with positive engagement on opposite sides of the tissue surrounding the opening which is to be closed.

Abstract: An implant is provided for closing passages in organs and defects. The implant has a primary structure, e.g. coil, of a resilient material, where the implant in an operational state, forms a secondary structure, e.g. coil, of greater diameter than that of the primary coil. The implant can be converted by a guide element from the shape of the secondary coil into a transporting state in which the implant adopts an elongate shape, and the implant once again assumes the operational state by removal of the guide element. In order to improve the success of treatment, it is proposed, for achieving a better securing of the implant in a larger passage of an organ, that the primary coil has areas of different transverse spring rate along its longitudinal extent. A set is furthermore proposed with an implant according to the invention, and a device for applying such an implant with a guide element.

Abstract: A method for managing real estate brokerage referrals in which the referrals are made by a broker for residential real estate. A geographically categorized real estate list is created and reviewed by a potential tenant. From this list the potential tenant makes a selection of a desired apartment complex. An individual referral fee agreement is generated which is specific to the potential tenant and to the specific desired apartment complex. The agreement that is generated is provided to the potential tenant who delivers the agreement to the agent for the desired apartment complex for acceptance by that agent. A broker computer system stores a database of real estate rental listings and is programmed for generating an online brokerage referral fee agreement specific to the potential tenant and the apartment complex when the potential tenant makes a selection of a specific complex from a database.

Abstract: A method for making cable of at least two thermoplastic insulated electrical conductors by thermal bonding. Two electrical conductors are moved into an extruder and are coated independently with heated thermoplastic insulation which maintains concentricity of each conductor with respect to the surrounding insulation. The insulated conductors are held in a spaced relationship until the insulation sets and then the heated insulated conductors are touched together causing the heated insulation to fuse together thereby joining them.

Abstract: In high speed strip pickling and other treatment such as rinsing and cleaning, the acid or other liquid treating medium tends to be carried along with the strip, which reduces the efficiency of contact of the acid with the strip. The invention addresses this problem by providing a segmented bath, each segment having a deflector over the strip to cause a flow reversal of the acid, which is then guided by an inclined separator panel to the upstream end of the segment and deposited again on the strip. The exit of the segment also includes a constriction to cause the acid to accelerate, creating turbulence, and, on the exit side of the constriction, causing a decrease in pressure, whereby acid is drawn down from above the separator panel, which in turn assists the circulation of acid through the flow reversal.

Abstract: Oxides on the surfaces of metal are reduced by directing reducing gases at them in a forceful and turbulent manner in an enclosure. The oxide-bearing surface is heated to at least 900 degrees F.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical roller bearing which allows the components to be assembled efficiently after they have been mounted in a machine. The cylindrical roller bearing has an inner race and an outer race and a plurality of rollers between the races. A bevel is on the inner race and is formed by a curved surface connecting an end face of the inner race to an outside diameter surface rollerpath of the inner race. The bevel may alternatively be formed of four or more flat surfaces which approximate a curved surface. The bevel can also be configured on the outer race as opposed to the inner race. This enables assembly of the rollers with respect to either the outer race or the inner race without scoring the rollerpath or the rollers.

Abstract: This is a method of producing manufactured aggregates from coal combustion by-products having sulfur. Recycle fines containing calcium hydroxide, an aluminum-containing material, and water are mixed together to form a feed mix which is agglomerated into an agglomerated product. The agglomerated product is combined with curing fines which contain calcium oxide which together form a blended mix. The blended mix is cured using the moisture in the blended mix which is used to exothermally hydrate the calcium oxide in the blended mix to form calcium hydroxide and which autogenically provides the required heat for curing and converts the calcium oxide in the blended mix to a dry calcium hydroxide-containing material to form aggregate products and dry fines. The aggregate products are separated from the dry fines, the dry fines are recycled to the mixing step and the aggregates are taken and used as a useful product for other purposes.

Abstract: A method of providing a temporary support for a length of belt added to extend an existing fixed conveyor belt having a tail roller. A plurality of separate discrete conveyor belt support stands are provided. The stands are collapsed together as a group and are moveably supported on a moveable support structure. The stands are joined to adjacent stands by a load bearing connector incapable of supporting vertical loads which permits separation of the stands to a predetermined distance. The tail roller is advanced. The moveable support structure is advanced toward the tail roller. At least one support stand is advanced on the support structure toward the tail roller thereby providing support for any additional length of conveyor belt that is added to the system.

Abstract: An air flow reversal prevention door is mounted to a discharge opening of a ventilation fan. The door includes a frame member with a void in it to permit air flow to pass through the frame and is attached fixedly to a shaft which supports the door and is located between the door and a discharge opening of the ventilation fan. While the door is held open by air from the ventilation fan, the frame member is moved from the edge of the discharge opening toward the door and back and this enables the shaft to rotate because it is fixedly attached to the frame member and it causes the shaft to rotate with movement of the frame member. This causes the shaft to rotate through the entire range of motion of the door between its open position and its collapsed position. This tests the operation of the door without turning off the fan. Whenever the fan fails or is turned off the air flow ceases and the door collapses by gravity toward the discharge opening to prevent air reversal flow.

Abstract: An ornament for displaying a standard 35 mm slide mount including removable planar frame member to hold the transparency, a body member with integral device for attaching the ornament to a decorative string of lights, a reflector within the body member for reflecting light toward the 35 mm slide to be viewed, and a diffuser within the body member to diffuse the light directed toward the 35 mm slide to be viewed. The removable planar frame may be rectangular in shape to simulate a picture frame.

Abstract: A fluid connector assembly having a flexible austenitic annealed stainless steel 300 series corrugated convoluted tube. At least one end of the tube has a smooth end which is free of convoluted corrugations. The corrugated portion has a hardness range of 150 to 190 points Vickers and the smooth end of the tube has a range of hardness of 275 to 380 points Vickers. A metal compression nut is used in combination with a metal compression ring in a metal fitting the smooth end to couple. The metal fitting is capable of coupling the fluid connector to another connector.

Abstract: A resistor grid assembly has a continuous resistor weave with a plurality of generally parallel, plate-like electrical elements. U-shaped bends join two adjacent elements at adjacent ends. The U-shaped bends are located in a bottom group and a top group. There is a top electrical insulating member adjacent the U-shaped bends in the top group and spaced from the U-shaped bends. There is a bottom electrical insulating member adjacent the U-shaped bends in the bottom group. Stop U-shaped pins having a pair of legs with a pair of shoulders are supported by the bottom electrical insulating member. The legs of each stop U-shaped pin extends into a pair of holes in the bottom group of U-shaped pins and rest upon the shoulders which are spaced from the insulator. Wire U-shaped pins are supported by the top electrical insulating member. The wire U-shaped pins have legs inserted into holes in the U-shaped bends in the top group. The U-shaped bends in the top group are spaced from the top insulator.