Abstract: The present invention relates to both a method and a device for removing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) from gaseous streams in conduits, chimneys and/or exhaust ducts. The method is especially useful in eliminating a large variety of pollutants, and especially organic odorous pollutants such as mercaptans and sulfurous compounds. The method is based on the principle of direct oxidation of the pollutants by ozone and the conversion of these pollutants into non-harmful products, and comprises the steps of: a) providing an electrical corona discharge reactor capable of producing ozone; b) supplying an electric current to the corona discharge reactor; and c) causing the gaseous effluents to flow through the reactor. With this method, the volatile organic compounds contained in the gaseous effluents are oxidised by the ozone produced by the corona discharge reactor.

Abstract: The bicycle has a frame on which a front wheel and a rear wheel are rotatably mounted. At least one of these two wheels is connected to at least one device using wind-generated Bernouilli force to assist forward motion of the bicycle. Such device has a wind-driven turbine with a plurality of horizontal air foils attached to a shaft rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis. It also has a shield positioned adjacent to part of the turbine to deflect wind and prevent it from impacting the air foils when they rotate forwardly. A clutch is operatively connected to the shaft of the turbine to the wheel for transferring the force generated by the wind within the turbine to this wheel.

Abstract: A process for treating gaseous emissions generated during the production of carbon anodes in the aluminum industry. In this process, first gaseous emissions generated during green anode preparation are collected and preheated by direct contact with a stream of combustion gases. Second gaseous emissions generated during anode baking are also collected and mixed with the first gaseous emissions to form a gaseous emission mixture. Alumina powder is then injected into the so obtained mixture and the resulting mixture with the alumina injected therein is processed into a dry scrubber that is equipped with a bag filter and is operating at temperatures well above the saturation temperature of tars, so as to obtain a gaseous mixture partially purified and free of fluorides and particulates. The so obtained partially purified gaseous mixture is then processed into an oxidation furnace in order to destroy all the organic compounds contained therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the industrial manufacture of a formwork panel in a continuous manner. In this process, a corrugated reinforcing metal core is manufactured in the form of a continuous metal core band. The metal core band is supplied onto a main conveyor. Simultaneously, a mixture of components that react with each other to make an insulating foam, is prepared and continuously injected at the inlet of the main conveyor. The foam that is being formed and expands along the main conveyor, is compressed so as to form to a continuous main body band having a given height and given thickness. This continuous main body band incorporating the continuous metal core band. Last of all, the continuous main body band and the continuous metal core band incorporated therein are cut at the outlet of the main conveyor to obtain the requested panels.

Abstract: A safety electrical outlet for receiving metallic prongs of an electrical plug. The outlet has a housing with at least two plug passages being sized for receiving the metallic prongs of the electrical plug, and two metallic connectors mounted on the housing for connection to an electrical power source. At least two transverse channels communicate with the corresponding plug passages and extend toward the corresponding metallic connectors with at least two spring-biased members being inserted in each corresponding transverse channel and being movable between an extended position where the spring-biased member partially extends within the corresponding plug passage and a retracted position where the corresponding metallic prong that is inserted inside the passage pushes against the spring-biased member so that it touches the corresponding metallic connector for establishing an electrical contact between the metallic prong and the corresponding metallic connector.

Abstract: The I-shaped wooden beam has two elongated chords extending in parallel relationship and blocks, struts or a web extending between the chords. Each of the chords is made of two pieces of wood having adjacent surfaces that are in contact and extend in parallel relationship with respect to the blocks, struts or web over the corresponding opposite end thereof. The two pieces of wood also have tongues and grooves positioned close to their adjacent surfaces and sized to match with opposite tongues and grooves made on the corresponding opposite end of the blocks, struts or web. These two pieces of wood are rigidly connected to each other and to blocks, struts or web so as to form an unitary structure of I-shape.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel silica gel nanofibers having an outer diameter lower than 100 nm, a length of up to 1 cm, a specific surface area of from 600 to 1000 m2/g and pore diameters of from 2 to 10 nm. Also disclosed are novel silica glass nanofibers having an outer diameter and a length similar to that of the above silica gel fibers. The silica gel nanofibers are prepared by reacting chrysotile in an aqueous solution containing a controlled-proton-releasing agent and cation-complexing agent, whereby the cations of the silicate are replaced by protons and dissolved, with production of solid fibrous and amorphous hydrated silica. The silica glass nanofibers are made by dehydrating the silica gel nanofibers at temperatures close to 1000° C. These nanofibers have numerous potential applications, especially due to their capacity to adsorb or absorb ions and metals, especially catalytically useful metals such as copper and silver.

Abstract: A process for treating a waste gas containing condensable organic compounds in the form of an aerosol of liquid particles, in a regenerative thermal oxidation system comprising a combustion chamber and at least two regenerators. During a first period of time, the waste gas is directed through a first one of the regenerators wherein the waste gas is heated by contact with a packing material contained therein, then through the combustion chamber wherein oxidation of the organic compounds contained in the waste gas is achieved and finally through a second regenerator wherein the oxidized gas coming from the combustion chamber is cooled by contact with a packing material contained in the second regenerator, such a contact causing simultaneous heating of the packing material contained in the second regenerator. The oxidized gas which leaves the second regenerator is then purified and may be discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for use to clean interproximal dental surfaces, subgingival areas and periodontal pockets and deliver a drug to these surfaces, areas and pockets after they have been cleaned. The device has a reservoir for storing and supplying the drug. The reservoir acts as a handle and has an outlet at one extremity. The device also has a needle with an internal channel through which the drug may flow. The needle is made of three successive sections including a clipping section, a cleaning section and an applicator section. The clipping section is connected to the outlet of the reservoir in such a manner as to place the channel of the needle in open communication with the reservoir. The cleaning section has an outer scrubbing surface that is sized to be inserted between teeth in order to clean the interproximal dental surfaces, subgingival areas and periodontal pockets. The applicator section projects away from the cleaning segment in a direction opposite to the clipping section.

Abstract: A connector for tying together opposed foam panels in spaced and parallel relationship to make a form for receiving flowable material is disclosed. The connector comprises a pair of anchor members, one being devised to be embedded in one of the foam panels and the other being devised to be embedded in the other one of the foam panels. Each of these anchor members has a projecting end devised to come out of the foam panel once the anchor member is embedded therein. The connector further comprises a web member extending between the foam panels. The web member has opposite longitudinal side ends, each of the side ends being hingedly connectable to the projecting end of either one of the anchor members. Thanks to such a connector, the tied foam panels of the form wall assembly are movable between an extended position where the foam panels are spaced-apart to make the form and a collapsed position where the foam panels are brought close to each other for transportation purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating and replacing a cap from a shank of a tip of a welding electrode. The cap and the shank form a peripheral hollow joint that is defined by a recessed end surface of the shank and a back surface of the cap. The apparatus includes a guide frame having a recessed portion sized for receiving the tip of the welding electrode. The apparatus also includes a cap withdrawing tool movably mounted on the guide frame. The tool has two facing wall sections each having a wedge that is inserted in the peripheral hollow joint. The wedge is forced against the back surface of the cap and removes the cap from the shank by means of a driving mechanism that moves the cap withdrawing tool toward the tip of the welding electrode that is engaged in the recessed portion of the guide frame.

Abstract: A spiral for interconnecting ends of endless belt segments with terminal fabric loops using a pintle. The spiral comprises a series of loops having inverted U-shaped loop portions extending in a transverse direction of the spiral. The loop portions have legs spaced apart from each other for passage of the pintle therebetween, and uppermost heads bending from and extending between the legs. U-shaped loop linking portions extend diagonally with respect to a longitudinal direction of the spiral, between lower ends of the legs of successive loops. The loop portions are parallel with and spaced from one another by a definite pitch distance matching with the fabric loops and adapted to define openings for interdigitation with a like spiral to form a channel for the pintle without longitudinal deformation of the spirals during the interdigitation.

Abstract: A hand scraper having a blade with a cutting edge that is attached to a handle having a rear end, a central portion and a front end with a bottom portion shaped and sized to receive and act as a support for the blade. The handle is upwardly curved over all its length in order to give room to a user's fingers below its central portion when this central portion is gripped by the fingers and the blade and the bottom portion of the rear end of the handle are in contact with a surface, and simultaneously to allow maximum transfer of pressure exerted by the user in the central section of the handle towards the blade at the front end thereof. Advantageously also, the central portion of the handle is covered at least in part with a layer of rubber material in order to maximize grip and reduce hand fatigue in use.

Abstract: The purified strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus CNCM/I-1492 (L.a. 1492) when administered alone or in combination with another Lactobacillus acidophilus (L.a.) strain and Lactobacillus casei (L.c.) strain, has a beneficial effect on the cholesterol blood level in mammals. It also strenghtens the immune system, facilitates the absorption of nutrients and stimulates the intestinal flora. Such strains also neutralize side effects caused by antibiotics. The invention concerns the specific strain L.a. I-1492, a ferment comprising L.a. I-1492, L.a. and L.c. strains, a dairy product obtained by this ferment and a method of manufacturing the dairy product.