Abstract: A portable apparatus for domiciliary and ambulatory oxygen therapy intended for people suffering from respiratory insufficiencies and treated by administering gaseous oxygen so as to correct the gas contents in their blood, in particular the carbon dioxide and oxygen contents. The system includes an air compression device; a concentrator device allowing gaseous oxygen having a purity of 50 to 99% to be produced; an oxygen liquefaction device; an accumulation and storage device for the oxygen liquefied by the liquefaction device; a liquefied-oxygen warming and vaporizing device; and a gas transport section for conveying the oxygen warmed and vaporized by the warming/vaporizing device to a gas delivery interface connected to the upper airways of a user.

Abstract: A modular gas control device for use with a compressed gas cylinder (111) comprises a primary module (152) and a secondary module (252) mounted on the primary module. The primary module comprises a first supporting body (154) having a first main gas flow path (155) through the body. The supporting body has input connecting means (156) for mounting the body on the cylinder (111) and connecting the gas flow path (155) to communicate with the gas cylinder through a first flow path (157). Pressure reducing means (166) provides gas in the flow path at a lower pressure than in the container. Output connecting means (170) downstream of the pressure reducing means provides a low pressure outlet from the main gas flow path. A high pressure shut off valve (164) is positioned upstream of the pressure reducing means, and filling means (161, 160) allows filling of the cylinder with compressed gas through the input connecting means (156) along a second flow path (159) separate from the input flow path (157).

Abstract: A dehumidification system is provided that includes a coil split subcooler having a plurality of splits that each include at least one circuit for removing moisture from an air flow. In addition, a system and method for modulating the capacity of a subcooler are provided whereby the rate in which moisture is removed from an air flow can be optimized.

Abstract: A composition having the formula: wherein R is a linear alkyl, branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, polycyclic alkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, or alkyloxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and at least one primary, secondary, or tertiary amino functional group. The composition is effective as a catalyst in the production of polyurethanes.

Abstract: A power ratchet wrench has a handle for gripping and holding the wrench and a head pivotally connected to the handle for pivoting movement relative to the handle about a pivot axis. A locking mechanism comprising a pivot assembly pivotally connects the head to the handle. The locking mechanism is configured to permit selective angular positioning of the head relative to the handle on the pivot axis and is operable between an adjusting mode in which the head is angularly positionable relative to the handle and a locking mode in which the head is locked in an angular orientation relative to the handle. The locking mechanism is rotatable about an axis transverse to the handle between the adjusting mode and locking mode of the locking mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing an essentially pure carbon monoxide (CO) product and an essentially pure hydrogen product by reforming a hydrocarbon such as methane and steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst to produce a reformate product enriched in CO, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The reformate is subjected to an integrated series of separation steps and carbon dioxide present in a portion of the waste effluent recovered from such series of spearation steps is shifted to CO in an integrated sorption enhanced reaction (SER) process.

Abstract: Nanoscale aluminum alloy powder is synthesized by mechanical alloying/milling techniques without significant oxidation, nitridation, or contamination with foreign materials. These powders are consolidated into a very dense billet form without a high temperature sintering step. The desired microstructure and properties were obtained by post hot isostatic pressing, extrusion, and/or forging of the nanoscale material billet made from the powders.

Abstract: This invention provides water-based compositions, particularly coating, ink, fountain solution and agricultural compositions, manifesting reduced equilibrium and dynamic surface tension by the incorporation of a surface tension reducing amount of an acetylenic diol ethylene oxide/propylene oxide adduct of the structure where r and t are 1 or 2, (n+m) is 1 to 30 and (p+q) is 1 to 30. Also disclosed is a method for making random and block EO/PO adducts of acetylenic diols by reacting an acetylenic diol with EO and/or PO in the presence of a trialkylamine or Lewis acid.

Abstract: Processes and systems to recover at least one perfluorocompound gas from a gas mixture are provided. In one embodiment the inventive process comprises the steps of a) providing a gas mixture comprising at least one perfluorocompound gas and at least one carrier gas, the gas mixture being at a predetermined pressure; b) providing at least one glassy polymer membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; c) contacting the feed side of the at least one membrane with the gas mixture; d) withdrawing from the feed side of the membrane as a non-permeate stream at a pressure which is substantially equal to the predetermined pressure a concentrated gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one perfluorocompound gas; and e) withdrawing from the permeate side of the membrane as a permeate stream a depleted gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one carrier gas.

Abstract: A packaging structure for holding an object securely against a rigid backing. The structure includes a substantially rigid panel having a first pair of fold lines defining respective folding side portions, a second pair of fold lines defining respective folding end portions oriented transverse to the folding side portions, and a center portion. A flexible film material is superimposed on one surface of the rigid panel and extends onto at least one of the folding side portions. The ends of the film material are connected to the rigid panel, with at least one end connected to one of the folding side portions. The folding side portions and folding end portions may include one or more lock tabs or lateral extensions for spacing the center portion of the rigid panel from the bottom and/or sidewalls of an outer box.

Abstract: A disinfectant composition and process for making the same. The composition comprises octenidine dihydrochloride, at least one C1 to C8-alkyl alcohol, at least one surfactant chosen among non-ionic or cationic surfactants, water and optionally at least one &agr;-hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A lubrication apparatus for an anti-rotation assembly of an oiless rotary scroll compressor is disclosed. The scroll compressor includes a stationary scroll element and an orbiting scroll element which orbits about the stationary scroll element in a non-rotational fashion. At least one anti-rotation assembly is provided for preventing relative rotation between the orbiting and stationary scroll elements. The anti-rotation assembly, which includes a first rotational bearing component mounted on the interior of the housing, a second rotational bearing component mounted on the orbiting scroll element and an offset crank member interconnecting the first and second rotational bearing components, is lubricated via a lubrication channel. The lubrication channel extends from a lubrication port disposed on the exterior of the housing, through the first rotational bearing component, thereafter through a channel provided in the offset crank member, thus allowing the lubricating agent (e.g.

Abstract: This invention is a rapid low-cost technique for manufacturing thick high-performance carbon and ceramic composites in the form of uniformly densified near-net shaped structures. This is accomplished by impregnating composite preforms with low-viscosity wetting monomers which undergo polymerization followed by pyrolysis reactions in the preform ultimately creating ceramic and/or carbon matrices. Since the monomers possess low-molecular-weight they have low viscosities. Thus, if they wet the fiber and partially-densified preform they can easily impregnate even the smallest pores. Once inside the preforms, polymerization of the monomers is then initiated, resulting in a liquid matrix-precursor of the high molecular weight needed to produce a superior matrix (upon pyrolysis) with high efficiency.

Abstract: A method using the position data being determined on the train to determine characteristics of the train and/or the track. This is achieved by providing position determining devices at two or more spaced locations along the train. The position of the two locations are determined by the position determining devices. A processor determines the difference between the two locations from the positions determined by the position determining devices and determines the characteristics of the train from the determined difference between the two locations.

Abstract: A stack of optically contacted birefringent crystals is configured to carry out coherent beam combination (multiplexing) of narrow-bandwidth phase-locked beams from multiple lasers or laser amplifiers (e.g., multimode Yb-doped fiber amplifiers). A stack of N crystals can multiplex the output of 2N laser amplifiers into a single diffraction-limited beam. Phase control of the beams is maintained by an electronic servo which monitors the optical power emitted into certain undesired beams and minimizes this power by means of phase adjusters (e.g., piezoelectric fiber stretchers) on each amplifier. A configuration is described where a front-end laser master oscillator (FMO) (e.g., a Nd:YAG laser) is demultiplexed by the crystal stack, passes through multiple laser amplifiers, is reflected back through the amplifiers by phase-conjugating mirrors (e.g., passive multimode fibers generating stimulated Brillouin scattering), and is multiplexed on the return trip through the crystal stack.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving an enzymatic process using at least one enzyme having pectinase activity which entails contacting the at least one enzyme during the process with a noble gas, mixture of noble gases or gas mixture containing at least one noble gas.

Abstract: Refrigeration process for gas liquefaction which utilizes one or more vaporizing refrigerant cycles to provide refrigeration below about −40° C. and a gas expander cycle to provide refrigeration below about −100° C. Each of these two types of refrigerant systems is utilized in an optimum temperature range which maximizes the efficiency of the particular system. A significant fraction of the total refrigeration power required to liquefy the feed gas (typically more than 5% and often more than 10% of the total) can be consumed by the vaporizing refrigerant cycles. The invention can be implemented in the design of a new liquefaction plant or can be utilized as a retrofit or expansion of an existing plant by adding gas expander refrigeration circuit to the existing plant refrigeration system.

Abstract: An improved center high-mounted stoplight apparatus for a motor vehicle or other transportation apparatus. The apparatus includes a pulsating or flashing mode of operation used to indicate rapid deceleration of the vehicle. This pulsating or flashing mode is in addition to the regular continuous mode of operation used for normal braking and deceleration and is arranged to be of a maximal human visibility and attention-capturing operating cycle. A plurality of different signaling arrangements to a following vehicle including an incandescent lamp, a gas tube lamp, light-emitting diode devices and non light-based signaling are also contemplated. Additionally included is a maximal distance spanning attention-capturing operating mode entered into in response to, for example, a collision-related deceleration event and maintained over a prolonged operating time or until manually disabled.

Abstract: A method for repairing scratches, dings, gouges or other minor imperfections in finishes applied by flame spraying, fluidized bed, hot flocking, electrostatic spray or electrostatic fluidized bed, which comprises dissolving a coating material in a suitable solvent, applying the resulting solution to a selected area, evaporating the solvent, and, optionally, curing the coating material.