Abstract: Devices and methods for water purification are provided. An improved demister (70) for removing liquid or other particles from steam is disclosed. The demister can have adjustable outlets. In other embodiments, a demister apparatus is placed, at least partially, inside a boiler apparatus (310). Additionally, a filter flow indicator (401) that provides an optical indication of the efficiency of a water filter is also provided. The filter flow indicator has a viewable side passage that connects the input and output sides of a filter unit. A weighted object, such as a ball (440), can move up and down the side passage in response to the pressure differential in the filter system. The user can determine the status of the filter by viewing the location of the weighted object in the side passage. Additionally, a device and method of adding various minerals back to purified water in order to improve the flavor of the water is described.

Abstract: A personal container is provided having handles in the shape of awareness ribbons, in which two end portions that intersect one another with the ends extending below the intersection point and a closed loop section that extend above the intersection point. The handles are attached to first and second sides of a compartment body. The handles each define an opening sized to receive a hand of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting ambient infrared radiation into electricity including an array of patch resonators each including a metal material having a predetermined shape tuned to resonate within a predetermined frequency range, a micro-strip line network for interconnecting the resonators and guiding energy, a dielectric substrate, and a metal ground plane. A micro-structured array of interconnected patch resonators operable for converting ambient heat to electricity, cooling, controlling temperature and wireless communication.

Abstract: Solvents and methods are provided for extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from a solid, semi-solid, liquid or viscous liquid hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: An enclosed circulation tool for a well including a tubular body having a top end, a bottom end and an interior cavity. A progressive cavity pump positioned at the bottom end of the body, the pump having a rotor mounted within a stator. The rotor has an upper end and a lower end, with the upper end extending into the interior cavity. A drive is coupled to and adapted to rotate the rotor in order to draw sand into the interior cavity. A first fluid passage is provided along which fluids from pumped from surface pass to fluidize solids within the interior cavity. A second fluid passage is provided along which fluidized solids from within the interior cavity pass to surface.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing organic matter is extracted from a hydrocarbon-containing material that is a viscous liquid, liquid or gaseous fossil fuel material. A turpentine liquid is contacted with a hydrocarbon-containing material in-situ in an underground formation containing the fossil fuel material to form an extraction mixture so as to extract hydrocarbon-containing organic matter into the turpentine liquid and form an extraction liquid. The extraction liquid is removed from the formation, the extraction liquid including the turpentine liquid containing the extracted hydrocarbon-containing organic matter. The extracted hydrocarbon-containing organic matter is separated from a residual material not extracted.

Abstract: High visual impact plastic packaging is described as well as methods for producing such packaging. Sealing portions of a package to each other in an interwoven manner is described. Printing on multiple surfaces of a package to obtain appealing visual effects is described. Methods of sealing plastic packages are described, including some that use heat sealing techniques. Plasticized or laminated paperboard materials can be used, as well as plastic materials such as mineral-based materials, polylactic acid, and recycled and/or recyclable polyurethane.

Abstract: Apparatus for hanging curtains from wall brackets includes a hollow cylindrical rod with a longitudinal slot in its wall through which an interior clamping member for each wall bracket may be inserted. The clamping member is secured to a respective bracket by one or more screws which extend from outside of the rod to the clamping member captured within the rod. C-shaped rings mounted on the rod have openings to allow passage of the rings along the rod without coming into contact with the brackets. Each ring has a downward extending projection, e.g., a tab, which can be apertured to receive a hook, clip or other fastener attached to the curtains.

Abstract: Described herein are novel thermally reactive near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers that undergo chemical and physical changes upon exposure to near-infrared radiation. Also described are the methods of preparation of the novel acetal copolymers starting either with vinyl-alcohol polymers or with acetal copolymers. Also described are the methods of use of the new near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers in coatings used in lithographic offset printing plates that can be directly imaged with near-infrared laser imaging devices in computer-to-plate and digital offset printing technologies. The novel acetal copolymers are also useful in photoresist applications, rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards and chemical sensor development.

Abstract: A fine acoustic waveguide comprising an inner spring. The inner spring provides stability to the acoustic waveguide and increases the manufacturing yield. The disclosed methods further comprise the steps of bending the fine acoustic waveguide with the inner spring and placing a securing material over the bent fine acoustic waveguide, optionally by using mold injection, casting, or extrusion coating.

Abstract: A parts separator apparatus for use with a centrifugal separator includes a shredder apparatus located within an inlet section of the parts separator. The shredder apparatus shreds wet chip material prior to the wet chip material passing over a drop-out opening in the parts separator.

Abstract: A terminal assembly that selectively couples multiple electrical loads in parallel or in series includes a circuit board that may be defined by a first section and a second section. A housing is disposed on the circuit board, and defines an access aperture overlapping multiple sets of jumpers attached to the first and second sections of the circuit board A cover is positioned on the access aperture to selectively expose the set of jumpers of the first section of the circuit board and the set of jumpers of the second section of the circuit board.

Abstract: A system and method of providing care annuities that guarantee provision of actual, appropriate custodial care to individuals. The care annuities are priced based on an estimated cost of providing anticipated, appropriate custodial care for an anticipated time period, such as a Medicaid lookback time. Some or all of the calculations involved in pricing and providing the care annuity, including estimating the type, length and cost of custodial care appropriate for an individual, may be made using a suitably programmed computer. A suitably priced care annuity will guarantee the individual actual, appropriate custodial care for as long as actually required and make business sense to the seller of the annuity. The risk of a possible difference between the estimated and actual cost of providing care may be factored into the price in a statistical manner so that the risk can be spread over a pool of care annuities.

Abstract: A bioreactor and bioreactor system are suitable for the growth of materials from algae. More specifically, the system preferred embodiments use concentrated sunlight in a solo- or co-generation system to produce algae and products therefrom as well as solar thermal energy.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for analysing and authenticating a luminescent tag are provided wherein a luminescence is triggered in the tag and relative light intensities emitted thereby measured within at least two luminescence bands. The measured intensities are compared with at least one reference tag representative of relative intensities emitted by an authentic tag to determine whether the luminescent tag corresponds with any of the at least one reference tag. If the measured intensities match the representative intensities, the luminescent tag is authenticated. A computer program to be implemented by the apparatus and system is also disclosed. Further, a method and system for verifying the authenticity of one or plural objects are disclosed, wherein each of the objects is to be associated with a respective tag. The respective tags are coded to emit light, when triggered, within at least two luminescence bands at respective predetermined relative light intensities.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating combustion in a rotary engine with planetary rotors orbiting inside a housing containing a main rotor. In various embodiments, the planetary rotor has a multi-faceted face that engages a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle with the bridge and face forming a dynamic seal; the planetary rotor has a face engaging a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle such that the bridge and face have a gap that allows gas flow from the trailing volume to the leading volume and the gap is sufficiently small to quench flame propagation from the leading volume to the trailing volume; and/or the face of the planetary rotor opposite a fuel injector has a pocket that allows the fuel cloud to expand without impinging or wetting the face of the planetary rotor.