Abstract: A means and method for comparing an incoming sequential string of digitally encoded characters from a database stored in a conventional memory against a pattern with an arbitrary number of elements, comprising specified characters or character types (alphabetic, numeric, delimiter, etc.) or tokens to indicate the matching of a specified or arbitrary number of input characters, is disclosed. The system comprises a number of digital machines, sequenced by control words fetched from their memories. The control words may indicate the current input character or character type of interest for each machine, the address of the potential next control word of the machine, a flag indicating the successful completion of a match, and other control fields.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves monitoring the extent and movement of said flame front to determine the location of one or more segments of the flame front which exhibit unfavorable combustion characteristics, and injecting one or more gases into the vicinity of one or more of said segments to control and optimize the combustion in said segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves monitoring the extent and movement of said flame front to determine the location of one or more segments of the flame front which exhibit unfavorable combustion characteristics, and injecting one or more gases into the vicinity of one or more of said segments to control and optimize the combustion in said segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for automatically and instantaneously computing and displaying with high precision the flow rate of thermoplastic samples run in an extrusion plastometer in accordance with American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Method D1238. The method and device comprise using a microcomputer and related circuitry to monitor and control the measurement process and subsequently compute the resulting flow rate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves monitoring the extent and movement of said flame front to determine the location of one or more segments of the flame front which exhibit unfavorable combustion characteristics, and injecting one or more gases into the vicinity of one or more of said segments to control and optimize the combustion in said segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves monitoring the extent and movement of said flame front to determine the location of one or more segments of the flame front which exhibit unfavorable combustion characteristics, and injecting one or more gases into the vicinity of one or more of said segments to control and optimize the combustion in said segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of restoring the pressure-composition characteristics of a disproportionated hydride comprising removing substantially all hydrogen from said disproportionated hydride and maintaining said hydride in a substantially hydrogen-free environment at a regeneration temperature sufficient to effectuate desired restoration of the hydride's pressure-composition characteristics. Also disclosed are methods of insitu regeneration of hydrides in process applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves monitoring the extent and movement of said flame front to determine the location of one or more segments of the flame front which exhibit unfavorable combustion characteristics, and injecting one or more gases into the vicinity of one or more of said segments to control and optimize the combustion in said segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves providing one or more radio transmitters below the surface of the ground, each of said transmitters being capable of sensing and transmitting information concerning the physical and chemical properties of its surroundings, and monitoring said transmissions as an indication of the extent and movement of said flame front. Also disclosed is a method for detecting non-uniform packing characteristics of rubblized material which involves providing one or more radio transmitters within the boundaries of a retort capable of sensing and transmitting information concerning the physical parameters of its surroundings, and monitoring said transmissions as an indication of the size and density distributions of the rubble in said retort.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves providing at least one multi-turn coil of wire on the surface of the ground electrically connected into one or more circuits in which an electrical resonance condition is established, and monitoring the change in impedance in one or more of said circuits as an indication of the extent and movement of said flame front.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the flame front in the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which comprises providing two or more resistance probes inserted into the ground electrically connected in one or more circuits capable of measuring the resistance between pairs of said probes, and monitoring the change in resistance in one or more of said circuits as an indication of the extent and movement of said flame front.

Abstract: Hydrides are used as a means to pump heat from a low grade thermal source, using hydrogen and materials which reversibly and exothermically form hydrides therewith at low temperatures and pressures, and which reversibly dehydride to release large quantities of hydrogen at relatively higher temperatures and pressures, which hydrogen then exothermically recombines with a second hydride species, thereby pumping heat from a given temperature to a higher temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the flame front during the in situ combustion of a subterranean carbonaceous stratum which involves providing one or more radio transmitters below the surface of the ground, each of said transmitters being capable of sensing and transmitting information concerning the physical and chemical properties of its surroundings, and monitoring said transmissions as an indication of the extent and movement of said flame front. Also disclosed is a method for detecting non-uniform packing characteristics of rubblized material which involves providing one or more radio transmitters within the boundaries of a retort capable of sensing and transmitting information concerning the physical parameters of its surroundings, and monitoring said transmissions as an indication of the size and density distributions of the rubble in said retort.

Abstract: Moving bed hydride heat pumps and pressure pumps are described in which a hydride-forming material is transported between two or more reactor vessels. Each vessel can be maintained at a predetermined temperature, and thus, the hydride-forming material may be heated or cooled by moving it into an appropriately heated or cooled reactor vessel. In this way thermal cycling of reactor vessels is reduced or eliminated. Both continuously operating and moving batch hydride pumping systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A fire retardant polymer which has a low halogen content is obtained by incorporating a vinyl aromatic containing a group reactive under Friedel-Crafts conditions and a Lewis acid or Lewis acid precursor within a thermoplastic composition.