Abstract: A refrigerant filter/dryer assembly isolates, removes, and replaces a filter/dryer core, and allows the vapor-compression heat pump system to continue to operate while the filter/dryer is being replaced. The refrigerant flow is automatically by-passed and the filter/dryer core is isolated for removal. The filter/dryer easily connects back into the refrigerant flow path. An indicator can be provided for indicating the remaining useful life of the filter/dryer while it is being used in the system.

Abstract: Lubricating oil formulations comprising base oil, sulfur-phosphorous anti-wear/extreme pressure agent and hindered phenol antioxidant, which combination of extreme pressure agent and hindered phenol antioxidant produces crystals and containing antioxidants, wherein the base oil is characterized as having a saturates content of 99 wt % or more is stabilized against crystal formation by the addition of a minor amount of high molecular weigh di- or polycarboxylic acid, or anhydride and an ester.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bypass device for extending the operating life of fixed bed reactors. The device may be placed within a fixed catalyst bed to partition the bed into a first top bed and a second virtual bed. The bypass device allows any fluid feedstock to bypass the first top bed of the fixed catalyst bed as it fouls and enter the second virtual bed under conditions that promote depositing any foulants contained in the bypass flow on the top surface of the second virtual bed rather than in the interstices of the second virtual bed. The invention also relates to an improved fixed bed reactor comprising the inventive bypass device and a method for extending the operating life of a fixed bed reactor that employs the inventive bypass device.

Abstract: A method for producing a unitary toothed part with a shaft and the resulting products. In the process, a blank is formed. The blank includes a shaft part and a flange part. The flange part having a thicker outer diameter and a thinner inner diameter. The outer diameter is formed into a tubular part by drawing. A plurality of teeth and remnants are formed by extruding the tubular part. At least one spline is formed by extruding the shaft part. Through the steps of forming, drawing, and extruding, a blank is made into a unitary part having teeth and a shaft thus increasing precision, rigidity, durability, and reducing forming costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a susceptor power-interface assembly which is used for a chamber process module that includes a power supply, a process chamber and a susceptor, wherein the susceptor includes a susceptor shaft penetrating a bottom of the process chamber and a susceptor base on which a wafer is disposed for the process. The susceptor power-interface assembly electrically connects the power supply to the susceptor base.

Abstract: There are provided a test apparatus and method for testing a semiconductor integrated circuit which enables improvements in the ease of operation and convenience of a BOST device and shortening of a test time. Numeric codes are assigned to tests. A test apparatus is equipped with memory and an analysis section. A test requirement table—in which hardware requirements required for conducting a test are set on a per-numeric-code basis—is stored in the memory. Test requirements corresponding to a numeric code are read from the memory, whereupon a test is performed. The analysis section analyzes a digital test output and sends the result of analysis to an external controller.

Abstract: A stainless steel toilet resistant to corrosion by sea water. The toilet has a toilet bowl portion which is butt-welded to a rim. The welding is carried out while the inside surface of the weld line is flushed with argon gas. Similarly, a P-trap is butt-welded to an exit opening at the bottom of the bowl portion. A flush ring assembly is supported below the rim member. The result is a toilet which can be operated with sea water without corrosion for a period of years.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having an electrically erasable and programmable nonvolatile memory, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile memory including memory cells arranged in rows and columns and disposed to facilitate both flash erasure as well as selective erasure of individual units of plural memory cells. The semiconductor device which functions as a microcomputer chip also has a processing unit and includes an input terminal for receiving an operation mode signal for switching the microcomputer between a first operation mode in which the flash memory is rewritten under control of a processing unit and a second operation mode in which the flash memory is rewritten under control of separate writing circuit externally connectable to the microcomputer.

Abstract: The present invention is for a transition metal-free catalyst system for synthesizing high molecular weight, linear polymers. The system comprises a catalyst composition having: (a) a neutral compound having the formula AlR3, wherein R is an alkyl or hydride group; (b) a Lewis acid or Lewis acid derivative cocatalyst different from the neutral compound, wherein the cocatalyst reacts with the neutral compound to form an initiator; and (c) an activity-enhancing modifier, wherein the modifier reacts with the initiator to form the catalyst composition. The instant invention is also directed to a method for polymerizing at least one olefinic monomer comprising the step of contacting a feed containing the olefinic monomer under polymerization conditions with the transition metal-free catalyst composition.

Abstract: An orthopedic device including a longitudinal plate assembly having an adjustable length and two ends. Each of the ends includes a feature that can be used to couple the end to a body structure, such as, for example, a vertebral bone. Preferably, the assembly includes two longitudinal plates that can translate longitudinally with respect to one another through a plurality of positions and be secured with respect to one another at one of the positions, thereby enabling the length of the assembly to be adjusted. Inasmuch as the length of the plate assembly can be adjusted, the surgeon can set the length to the most clinically appropriate length for effective coupling of the plate assembly to the body structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling the soot induced viscosity increase of a diesel engine lubricant composition comprising a base oil and a dispersant, by including in said lubricant composition an effective amount of an antioxidant, characterised in that the antioxidant comprises a dihydrocarbyldithiocarbamate of a metal selected from antimony, bismuth and mixtures thereof. The antioxidant may optionally contain at least one other compound selected from a phenolic and an aminic compound. The method of the present invention improves the performance retention of the dispersant additive, and thus inhibits the soot-induced viscosity increase of the lubricant.

Abstract: A method for displaying microarray information by which unknown but useful information is extracted from a mass amount of sample information obtained with microarrays. Luminescent intensity information of sample spots obtained with the microarrays is standardized for each microarray and displayed as a graph as a difference from the standardized luminescent intensity of a sample spot of interest. Accordingly, information can be compared without being influenced by a difference of experiment status between the microarrays or a difference of physical properties between the samples. A three-dimensional graph is displayed by sorting the set of samples and the set of microarrays to which the sample spots belong, under predetermined conditions, and assigning the set of sorted samples and the set of sorted microarrays to X-axis and Y-axis, and the accumulated luminescence intensity to Z-axis.

Abstract: An antioxidant which comprises a primary aliphatic hydroxyl group linked to an organic backbone such that upon oxidation a hydroperoxyl moiety capable of boosting the efficacy of free radical scavengers and hydroperoxide decomposer type antioxidants is generated in situ. The antioxidant is preferably a high hydroxyl polyol ester having a hydroxyl number ranging from about 30 to about 180 which ester is the reaction product of polyol and an acid which is at least fifty percent branched carboxylic acid, wherein the unconverted hydroxyl group is reacted with a facile leaving group, thereby producing free —CH2OH groups upon hydrolysis or oxidation.

Abstract: The invention is a method and catalyst for selectively and efficiently producing short chain linear &agr;-olefins. The method includes contacting olefinic monomers under oligomerization conditions with the catalyst composition which comprises a composition prepared in situ by reacting a nickel compound selected from the group consisting of halides, hydrides, triflates, acetates, borates, C1, through C12 alkyl, C1 through C12 alkoxy, C3 through C12 cycloalkyl, C3 through C12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolates, carbon monoxide, cyanate, olefins including diolefins and cycloolefins, and any other moiety into which a monomer can insert and mixtures thereof, with an amine ligand wherein said ligand is a nitrogen-containing ligand having one or more nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated laser capture microdissection are disclosed. High throughput microdissection is provided by using cell procurement and multi-imaging tools for pre-selecting cells of interest. Novel methods of computer-controlled cap transfer along with automated multi-slide and multi-cap placements, automated slide and cap detection are provided. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.

Abstract: A pulley set for a continuously variable transmission unit, comprises a pair of discs accommodated on a shaft, and a screw mechanism which is concentric with respect to said discs and for moving the discs towards and from each other, said discs enclosing a V-shaped groove, for accommodating a belt, said screw mechanism being controllable by a control means. The control means including a motor unit, said motor unit comprising a stator and a rotor, one of said stator and rotor engaging the nut of the screw mechanism, and the other of said stator and rotor engaging the screw of the screw mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention aims to reduce the manufacturing work load of a structure of a liner of a concrete wall. A plurality of liner anchors 10 is constructed longitudinally to one surface of a liner 11, and a plurality of flat bars 14 is constructed transversely to the other surface of the liner 11. Concrete for a reinforced concrete wall is installed using the liner 11 reinforced longitudinally and transversely by the liner anchors 10 and the flat bars 14 as a formwork, and the liner is constructed to the concrete wall by burying the liner anchors 10 to the concrete wall. Thereafter, the flat bars 11 are removed from the liner 14, according to need.

Abstract: A reducing agent and a readily-oxidizable gas are injected into a NOx-containing process stream to reduce the concentration of the NOx-containing process stream by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for computed radiography includes an optical pump source which may be a plurality of light emitting diodes or a movable laser. Pumping light from the optical pump source is carried through each of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a linear array to a previously-exposed computed radiography plate having a latent X-ray image formed thereon. The plate is moved with respect to the fibers. Light emitted from the radiographic medium due to excitation by the pumping light supplies the emitted light to an optical receiver where an image signal responsive to the light intensity of the emitted light is generated. The image signal is sent to a processor to generate an image representative of the latent X-ray. An erasing of the latent x-ray image may be accomplished in the same machine apparatus that generates the representative image. Preferably, multiple erasure operations are performed with a relaxation period, e.g., three to ten seconds between successive erasing operations.