Abstract: The invention relates to the field of production of lactams from aminonitriles, and in particular to the production of ?-caprolactam by the vapor phase hydrolytic cyclization of 6-aminocapronitrile. A crude liquid caprolactam comprising ?-caprolactam (CL), 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and water obtained from a vapor phase cyclization reaction of ACN is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to convert the ACN in the crude liquid caprolactam to a product comprising hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and hexamethyleneimine (HMI). Tetrahydroazepine (THA) in the crude liquid caprolactam is converted to HMI during this hydrogenation. The HMD and HMI have lower boiling points compared to ACN and thus they are more easily separated from CL in the subsequent distillation operations. Thus a process to make CL from ACN with fewer distillation stages, and with lower pressure drop and lower base temperature, is accomplished.

Abstract: An adjustable arch support assembly having a position fixing member configured to be fixed to a shoe insole, the position fixing member having a plurality of retaining features positioned at different locations along the position fixing member. Also included is a movable arch support having a main body configured to support an arch region of a foot, and a coupling member provided on the main body and configured to couple the main body to the position fixing member. The coupling member has at least one engagement feature configured to engage different ones of the retaining features such that the movable arch support is fixed in different positions relative to the position fixing member based on the retaining feature engaged by the engagement feature.

Abstract: Process for hydrocyanating a substrate selected from 2-, 3-, or 4-pentenenitrile and/or 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile or mixtures thereof by contacting the substrate with HCN in the presence of a zero-valent nickel catalyst and a promoter that is obtained as a byproduct of titanium ore chlorination.

Abstract: An indexing system in a database comprises plural levels, each representing one digit in a key of a data string and having an instruction for each constituent element at said represented digit of the key. The instruction includes one of: i) moving on to check a next level without specifying a record; ii) specifying one or more records and also moving on to check a next level; iii) specifying one or more records and not moving on to check a next level; iv) not specifying a record and not moving on to check a next level. A database so indexed facilitates an efficient recursive lookup on a best-pattern match basis, such as required in a telephony database for acquiring fast routing instructions based on a telephone number.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controller for an electric auxiliary heater (1) of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system. The controller comprises a power supply cable (2), which provides energy and comprises a control cable for transmitting control signals to a regulator (5) for regulating the auxiliary heater (1). The invention is characterized in that the power supply cable (2) is also the control cable.

Abstract: The exterior rearview mirror has a mirror head, which is provided with a mirror glass and with at least one illuminant, which radiates light through at least one light permeable section to the exterior. Furthermore, the exterior rearview mirror has a mirror base. In order to provide the exterior rearview mirror, so that the light function is performed in an optimum manner through the simple provision of the mirror, at least part of the housing of the mirror head and/or of the mirror base is comprised of at least two plastic layers, having different light permeability. In the light permeable section, the plastic layer with the lower light permeability is missing, or it only has such thickness, that the light emitted by the illuminant radiates to the exterior with sufficient light intensity. The plastic layer with higher light permeability can be used as a light pane for the illuminant disposed behind it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor to detect contaminants and/or water with at least one transmission unit (12, 112) and at least one receiver unit (16, 116) as well as a test surface (22, 122) in which the deposit (30, 32) can be detected on the test surface (22, 122) by a light beam (24, 26; 124, 126) emitted by a transmission unit (12, 112) and received by the receiver unit (16, 116). The transmission unit (12, 112) emits at least two different wavelengths allocated to a common receiver (18, 118) of the receiver unit (16, 116).

Abstract: An exterior rear view mirror for a vehicle has a housing pivotally mounted on a base for angular movement about a first pivot axis and an electric motor for causing such movement. A controller operates the motor at either of two different speeds. The controller includes a counter for counting the number of revolutions of the output shaft of the motor so as to determining the angle through which the housing has been moved, thus enabling the housing to be restored to its original position by causing the motor to perform the same number of revolutions in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are barrier articles of polyurethane blends or alloys that limit the permeability of gases there through, particularly as used in inflatable sports articles and more particularly as used in soccer balls.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrical heating device, especially for motor vehicles, including a closed frame (2) which include rails (3, 4) and cross rails (5, 6), heating elements (7) which include elements made of electrically conductive plastic layers (18) having PCT effect, which are arranged between contact plates (15, 16), heat-conducting secondary surface elements (8) that can be overflown by air and at least one electrically conductive spring element (9), wherein the heating elements (7) and the secondary surface elements (8) are alternatingly arranged next to one another and are braced against each other by the rails (3, 4) and a spring element (9) placed centrally which replaces the secondary surface element (8).

Abstract: The invention concerns a camera system, especially a camera system in a camera-based analysis system and/or assistance system of a vehicle, comprising a camera with an optical beam path (12), which has at least one optical element to guide image information to a light-sensitive image sensor (14). At least one test beam (22) can be coupled into a transparent test element (30) arranged on the input side in front of beam path (12) and, depending on a degree of soiling of the test element (30), at least one partial beam (24) indicating soiling can be directed from the test element (30) onto a sensor (14a) to receive the partial beam (24) indicating soiling.

Abstract: The invention discloses a container made of a transparent material. The container is of the type comprising, in one wall, a reserve into which is fixed a hollow sealed insert (4) containing a fluid in which particles can move. The container is characterized in that the insert (4) comprises a body (13) in the form of a dish intended to hold said fluid and a blanking plate (15) provided on the front face of the body (13), which extends beyond this face, forming an annular region (16) around the body (13), in that the reserve has a complementary shape to the insert (4), and in that the rear face (17) of this annular region (16) constitutes the region via which the insert (4) is fixed by bonding into the reserve. The invention can be used in bottles that have an insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exterior mirror of a vehicle with an opening facing rearward in assembled state, in a housing, with a cavity, into which a mirror can be received, and a forward facing rear wall, confining the cavity, with an exterior surface. At least two different light functions can be performed on the outer surface and/or the mirror, wherein the light functions comprise illuminants, which are grouped in one or several modules within the housing.

Abstract: This invention concerns a geocomposite (1, 2) that includes a drainage sheet (4) onto which are placed perforated, girdled mini-drains (5) parallel to each other, and at least one filtration sheet (31) covering the perforated, girdled mini-drains (5), characterized in that the drainage sheets (4) and the filtration sheets are connected together by the needlepunching technique.

Abstract: Captive balloon assemblies and methods of using the captive balloon assemblies are presented. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of entertaining. The method comprises providing an assembly comprising a balloon, a tower and a cable driving system. The balloon comprises one or more seats and is captive and mobile in the tower. One or more persons are placed in the seat, and the balloon is caused to ascend within the tower by the cable driving system. The balloon assembly can also be used to generate revenue and display one or more advertisements.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyester bicomponent core spun yarn comprising a sheath of at least one hard fiber and having an English cotton count of from about 5 to about 60 and a core of bicomponent polyester filament. The invention further includes a fabric substantially free of grin-through of the bicomponent polyester filament.

Abstract: For the purpose of metering a flow of gaseous media, there is arranged a perturbation body in a measuring chamber which has a medium flowing through it, and an ultrasonic excitation signal is transmitted through the measuring chamber transverse to the direction of flow and at a point downstream of the perturbation body. The ultrasonic excitation signal after having traversed the measuring chamber is captured together with the ultrasonic excitation signal transmitted as structure-borne noise. The captured signal is squared first and then demodulated with a filter. An indication for the flow through the measuring chamber is derived from the frequency of the demodulated signal.