Abstract: A process for the separation of mixture components uses a supercritical fluid that is fresh to at least one side of a nonporous membrane after which the fluid is either recycled to the opposite side of the membrane or removed from the separation process. Fluids and membranes, including modified membranes, are provided to facilitate passage of one or more components of a mixture through the membrane while retarding passage of other components of the mixture. The process is useful for the separation of mixtures with similar components including axeotropic mixtures and pharmaceutical and biological products.

Abstract: An opto-electric device for measuring the root mean square value of an alternating current voltage comprises: a) an electric field-to-light-to-voltage converter having 1) a light source; 2) an electro-optic material: (a) receiving light from the light source; (b) modulating said light; and (c) providing a modulated light output; 3) an electric field applied to the electro-optic crystal to modulate the light from the light source to produce the modulated light output; b) an optical receiver for receiving and converting the modulated output light from the electro-optic material to a first voltage that is proportional to a square of the electric field applied to the electro-optic material; c) an averager circuit receiving the first voltage and providing a second voltage that is proportional to the average of said square of said electric field over a period of time; and d) an inverse ratiometric circuit receiving the second voltage from the averager circuit and returning a third voltage that is an inverse voltage

Abstract: A shelving unit for a wire rack is formed from an essentially flat elongated shelf member with at least one cleat attached transverse to the underside of the shelf member and extending downward between a pair of adjacent support wires of the wire rack, preferably in a frictional fit to prevent movement of the shelf in a sideways, forward and back, or twisting manner. Additional cleats, spaced apart from each other and extending downward between other pairs of support wires are typically used. The shelf unit member may be formed from slats that are spaced apart from each other or in contact with each other in a butt, lap, tongue and grove or other joint arrangement. Each cleat may be formed as two or more spaced apart cleat sections that, when properly sized and positioned, accept differently positioned cental support rods from major wire-rack manufacturers which serve as a stop to prevent the shelf unit from falling from the wire rack.

Abstract: A mass and heat transfer device uses a substantially vertical surface to separating a first fluid space from a second fluid space with the first fluid space containing a downward flowing liquid in at least a partially flooded state and an upward flowing gas contained at least partially within the downward flowing liquid. A fluid distribution surface with one or more apertures is provided within the first fluid space with the apertures controlling the downward passage and distribution of the downward flowing liquid and the upward passage and distribution of the upward flowing gas. A heat transfer fluid is used in the second fluid space for heat transfer with fluids in the first fluid space. The fluid distribution surface can be used in a horizontal, vertical or angled position and in annular, cylindrical, and hexahedral forms.

Abstract: The present invention is a power supply (10) that starts a load (20) with a heavy start-up power draw from a power grid (12) and then switches the load to a generator (22) for lower power draw operation thereby avoiding the need for a large capacity generator capable of initial start-up of the load (20). The power supply comprises a conductor (15) for connecting to a power grid, an electrical power generation device (30), an electrical power using device or load (20) and a switching mechanism (40) for 1) isolating the power grid (12) from the power generation device (30), 2) connecting the power grid conductor (15) to the electrical power using device (20) for the initial start-up of the power using device (20), and 3) connecting the power generation device (30) to the power using device (20) after initial start-up.

Abstract: A welding arrangement (10) consists of first and second parts to be welded (4a, 4b) with a portion of the first part and a portion of the second part juxtaposed to form a weld zone (8a, 8b). An electrically-conductive sheet (2) with a higher melting temperature than a melting temperature of the first part (4a) and a melting temperature of the second part (4b) is placed over the weld zone (8a, 8b). A first electrode (12) is placed in contact with the electrically conductive sheet material (2) and a second electrode (14) is positioned and aligned with the first electrode (12) to heat conducively the weld zone (8a, 8b) with an electrical current. For the butt weld configuration (10), a second electrically conductive sheet (6) is placed between the second electrode (14) and the weld zone (8a, 8b).

Abstract: A trochoidal gear pump or engine uses a coaxial hub with the outer and/or inner rotor and an associated rolling element bearing assembly that preferably uses pre-loaded bearings to precisely set the rotational axis and/or the axial position of the rotor with which it is associated. This allows the fixed-gap clearance between the rotor surfaces and the housing surfaces or the other rotor surfaces to be set at a distance that minimizes operating fluid shear forces and/or by-pass leakage and eliminates gear tooth wear thus preserving effective chamber to chamber sealing. The device is useful in handling gaseous and two-phase fluids in expansion/contracting fluid engines/compressors and can incorporate an output shaft that accommodates an integrated condensate pump for use with Rankine cycles. A vent from the housing cavity to a lower pressure input or output port regulates built-up fluid pressure in the housing thereby optimizing the efficiency of the device by controlling bypass leakage.

Abstract: A heating system uses a dynamic thermal stabilizer for receiving, mixing, holding and outputting a circulating heat exchange liquid in a fashion similar to the use of a flywheel in the mechanical arts. Liquid is returned to the dynamic thermal stabilizer from both an input heat exchange unit and an output heat exchange unit. A two pump system affords a simple tee fitting arrangement that provides room air heating by directly using hot liquid either from the dynamic thermal stabilizer or directly (and at higher temperature) from the input heat exchange unit itself to automatically achieve an additional boost of room heat using higher temperature liquid. The system can also provide initial short draws of domestic hot water from the dynamic thermal stabilizer alone or long draws of hot water by using the input heat exchange unit as a further source of heat input.

Abstract: Insert (10) is formed from sheet (12) which is slidably held in slit (16) formed in compressible resilient covering (14). Stiffening member (22) is contained in the core of material (14) and has a slit (24) also slidably holding sheet (12). A compressible resilient insert (90) is contained in stiffening member (22). Corner members (26) slidably engage adjacent stiffening member (22) and sheet (12). Insert (90) and covering (14) compressibly hold sheet material (12) in frame (60). Fasteners (30) are used to urge members (22) toward frame (60) thereby further compressing member (14) to close any gaps with frame (60). A quadruple sealing effect is achieved as a result of: 1) the insert (90) between edge (15) and member (22); 2) the clamping action of member (22) on sheet (12); 3) the clamping action of covering (14) on sheet (12); and 4) the compression of covering (14) between frame (60) and member (22).

Abstract: A liquid management unit uses a substantially horizontal rotor device partially submerged in a liquid so that at least a portion of a rotating component or the rotor device moves a liquid above the surface of the body of water and is then collected in a container for filtering, irrigation, or other purposes. A flap may be used with the container for opening and closing the container to incoming liquid. A control device such as an endless screw, chain, or rod may be used for opening and closing the flap especially when it is located on the interior of a shroud. A flow restriction unit can also be used with the liquid management unit to provide increased velocity to incoming liquid. The flow restriction unit is formed as a U-shaped member with an open inlet and opposite open outlet end. The inlet end cross sectional area may be increased by angling the sides outward at the inlet or slanting the bottom downward from the outlet to the inlet ends.

Abstract: A liquid management unit uses a) a shaft mounted disc rotor partially submerged into a liquid for introducing flow-inducing energy and air or treatment gas into the liquid, b) a first baffle for receiving liquid from below the surface of a body of liquid and directing the liquid to the rotor, and c) a second baffle for receiving treated liquid from the rotor and directing the treated liquid below said surface of the body of liquid. The rotor and baffles may be mounted in various orientations including both horizontal and vertical positions. The disc rotor and first and second baffles are mounted on a frame that is supported by pontoons. A shroud placed over the disc rotor and input and output baffles with an air passage through them form a pressurized three-point aeration system in which the input baffle pre-aerates the water to satisfy chemical oxygen demand, the disc rotor transfers additional air to the water, and the output baffle post-aerates the water to satisfy the overall oxygen demand of the liquid.

Abstract: A plastic joining method directs polychromate, non-coherent electromagnetic radiation through a transmitting plastic to an absorbing material that absorbs the radiation with the generation of heat. The heat is used to heat a bond line formed from the transmitting plastic and a substrate sufficiently to bond the transmitting plastic and substrate. A radiation filter of the same material as the transmitting plastic is used to reduce effectively unwanted absorption (and heat) in the transmitting plastic. Radiation focusing, masking, transmitting plastic cooling, bond line component drying, double pass welding, and additional bond line pressure are used to improve the bond of the resulting manufacture.

Abstract: A device 10 is provided for supporting a wall 11 of a form for containing concrete and like fluid materials. It comprises the following components and arrangements thereof relative to each other; and normally but not necessarily arranged as in FIG.

Abstract: A system for aqua farming comprises at least one land mass; typically a plurality of approximately rectangular land masses with their sides typically at least about an order of magnitude longer than their ends and defining approximately parallel channels between them in an adjacent body of water. The water moves into the channels and, in a substantial region of each land mass, also moves through it from the channel on one side to the channel on the other side thereof. Filtering means such as sand, gravel, or a mixture of sand and gravel, block the movement through the land masses of most of the pieces of solid matter that may be present in the water, whose smallest cross section is larger than a predetermined size.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating and storing water comprises a tank 10 for holding a quantity of water 15 within a space 11 between studs 12 in a wall or like surface 13 of a room 14. An inlet conduit 16 conveys water into the tank 10, and an outlet conduit 17 conveys water out of it and on to another entity 36. A heater 32, spaced apart from the tank 10, receives water from a supply source at a lower temperature, heats it to a higher temperature, and communicates the heated water to the inlet conduit 16. Reinforcing structural members 25 and locator tabs 22 allow for economic construction and ease of installation. A typical tank 10 comprises a hollow parallelopiped having its front surface member 20 in the plane of the surface 13 of the room 14 and its back surface in a plane behind that of the surface 13.

Abstract: Conventional infrared, spot reflector lamps are modified by removing portions of the reflector to form reflector edges and then placing the reflector edges next to each other to form an array of lamps with a wide variety of configurations. The combined lamps are particularly effective when the filaments of each lamp are oriented in the same direction as that of a desired heating line. Maximum energy flux density is achieved by positioning the lamps at a distance of about twice the focal length of the uncut, spot-focused lamps. By removing segments from the reflectors to form edges that define planes that are parallel to or intersect with each other, various shaped reflectors are formed that are used to assemble arrays that provide uniform heating lines of various shapes.

Abstract: An allergen immunoassay method features the use of a combination of a) closely controlled 1) elevated temperatures for assay reactions, 2) low temperatures for reagents and samples, 3) times for assay steps and especially assay reaction times, 4) reagent concentrations, and 5) reagent amounts; b) the use of a fast and accurate method of sample preparation that removes dust and contaminants; c) the stabilization of samples to avoid auto- and antibody degradation and unwanted effects of sample contaminants; and d) the formation of a colored product to determine the amount of a specific allergen. This combination provides an assay that can be completed in a few hours while retaining the precision, accuracy, sensitivity and response curve of previous methods requiring much longer periods of time.

Abstract: Visual display means of a vehicle having a body and force means for producing motion change of the vehicle body comprise a vehicle visual display device on the vehicle body including a container, a first liquid fluid in the container, and a second fluid in the container and essentially immiscible with the first fluid. The vehicle visual display device is responsive to the force means to cause a first fluid-second fluid interface, a first fluid-container interface, and a second fluid-container interface, to change in response to the motion change in the vehicle body. Either the first liquid fluid or the second fluid or both are visible through the container. A plurality of the devices in close proximity, such as side by side, provide the especially interesting and pleasing effects of synchronous change as the motion of the vehicle varies.