Abstract: A filter retaining system formed from multiple filter retaining frames is disclosed. Each of the frames is formed from either a female type extrusion or a combination of male and female type extrusions. Specifically, each frame has either a tongue or a groove which is engageable into a corresponding groove or tongue of an adjacent frame. The tongue and groove engagement provides added rigidity to the retaining system, as well as preventing air from bypassing the filters retained within each frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel plant and process for producing liquefied natural gas. The plant of the invention is of the type that comprises one natural gas pre-cooling heat exchanger having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for cooled natural gas, optionally a distributor having an inlet connected to the outlet for cooled natural gas and having one or more outlets, and one or more main heat exchangers each comprising a first hot side having one inlet connected to one outlet of the distributor and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, which plant further comprises a pre-cooling refrigerant circuit for removing heat from the natural gas in the natural gas pre-cooling heat exchanger, and one or more main refrigerant circuits for removing heat from natural gas flowing through the first hot side of the corresponding main heat exchanger. The invention is based on the use of separate pre-cooling circuits: one for the pre-cooling of the natural gas and one for the pre-cooling of the main refrigerant.

Abstract: This process includes the following steps:

Abstract: Implementing a business process management system across an entire enterprise. An exemplary computer-based system for implementing business processes can access data existing on one or more of the computer platforms of an enterprise to implement workflows by a workflow engine. A business process can be broken into business rules that define the process. These business rules can then be categorized into work element categories and translated into workflow elements. Data for supporting the workflow can be identified, including sources of that data within the enterprise. Delegates can be designed to implement each individual workflow element. For example, a delegate can be designed to support the retrieval of data from a computer platform other than the platform hosting a workflow engine. These delegates, which typically comprise XML documents, can be assembled and operated as workflow elements to form the workflow processed by the workflow engine.

Abstract: A process for calculating a meshed description of a realization of an oil-bearing reservoir takes as its starting point a reference realization of the reservoir with a plurality of stratigraphic surfaces, a meshed reference description for the reference realization comprising a plurality of planes some of which describe the stratigraphic surfaces, each plane comprising a plurality of points, at least two stratigraphic surfaces of the realization corresponding to two stratigraphic surfaces of the reference realization. A plane of the meshed description representing one of the two stratigraphic surfaces of the realization is obtained by applying displacements to the points of the planes of the reference description, making it possible to pass from the reference stratigraphic surface to the stratigraphic surface in the realization. The other planes of the description are obtained thereafter by interpolation.

Abstract: A method of gradual deformation of representations or realizations, generated by sequential simulation, not limited to a Gaussian stochastic model of a physical quantity z in a meshed heterogeneous medium, in order to adjust the model to a set of data relative to the structure or the state of the medium which are collected by previous measurements and observations. The method comprises applying a stochastic model gradual deformation algorithm to a Gaussian vector with N mutually independent variables which is connected to a uniform vector with N mutually independent uniform variables by a Gaussian distribution function so as to define realizations of the uniform vector, and using these realizations to generate representations of the physical quantity z that are adjusted to the data.

Abstract: This present invention concerns a procedure for cracking, in a fluidized bed, a hydrocarbon charge wherein the cooling particles, which may optionally also be catalytic particles, circulate in two successive reaction chambers (1; 16), in each of which they are brought into contact with at least one cut of hydrocarbons, and the reaction effluents from each of said chambers are directed towards one and the same fractionating unit.

Abstract: Controlling the authorization of financial transactions, such as credit card transactions. Financial institutions and businesses can establish accounts for employees that have an authorization process that augments the normal authorization process, where this augmented authorization process can result in approving transactions that otherwise exceed the transaction limitations established for the account. A single event authorization control (SEAC) process can be completed in response to determining that a financial services transaction undergoing a conventional authorization process qualifies for the SEAC process. To complete the process, a SEAC data record containing parameter values that most closely match the parameter values associated with the authorization request is selected and the applicable SEAC action contained in the data record, e.g., decline override, funds encumbrance, or budgetary exception, is performed. Then, a decision regarding authorization of the transaction is generated.

Abstract: A method wherein the particles are homogeneously distributed like rain to constitute a horizontal bed of particles on the entire section of the chamber (1). The invention is characterised in that it consists in temporarily modifying at least once the loading conditions, so that the profile of the surface (8) of the bed of particles forms, at least at the periphery thereof, an angle &agr; with the horizontal ranging between 6° and 25°, preferably, between 10° and 20°, and in subsequently restoring the loading conditions to obtain a horizontal bed.

Abstract: An emulsion consists essentially of clear binders and possibly colored pigments, and contains at least one clear synthetic binder with a softening point or ball-ring temperature (TBA), measured according to the NFT 66-008 standard, that ranges between 30 and 100° C.

Abstract: A process for cracking, in a fluidized bed, a hydrocarbon charge wherein the cooling particles, which may optionally also be catalytic particles, circulate in two successive reaction chambers (1; 16), in each of which they are brought into contact with at least one cut of hydrocarbons, and the reaction effluents from each of the chambers are directed towards one and the same fractionating unit. The effluents from each of the reaction chambers (1; 16) are fractionated in part separately in one and the same partially partitioned fractionating unit, and at least one cut (12) obtained by separately fractionating the effluents from one of the two reaction chambers (1; 16) is, as a whole or in part, reinjected into the other chamber.

Abstract: A system for controlling vehicles to provide transportation services without need for human intervention. A database stores records each documenting needed transportation services. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate transportation service, and instructs vehicles to provide the service. The processing circuitry also monitors vehicle activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained vehicle activity information, to identify transportation services which are not being adequately provided, and refer these to human dispatchers for special attention. A variety of methods for obtaining and updating vehicle activity information are disclosed, as are various applications for the system.

Abstract: There is referred to a process for retrieving equipment (70, 72, 90) which is stuck, from a bore hole, where the equipment is connected to a tool and is brought to the surface, and the method is characterised in that a tool is lowered in the bore hole, such as mounted to the lower end of a string or the like, said tool comprising a stationary grip part (14, 44) which is arranged substantially enclosingly about the equipment residue (70, 72, 90) between its outer wall and the wall of the bore hole, after which a central axially movable grip part (16) of the tool is caused to be forced downwards for fixing the equipment residue against the stationary grip part. There is also disclosed a device for accomplishing the method.

Abstract: A backrest for use with a chair includes a support structure. The support structure has a rigid outer rim and flexible inner back support section. The support section consist of a number of generally parallel slats (vertically extending members) which seperately support parallel longitudinal sections of the person's back. Each slat produces a force against the person's back responsive to the weight placed on the slat by the person's back. As the person shifts positions, each slat moves to dynamically provide an increased or decreased force against the person's back, depending on whether the person is applying an increased or decreased force against the slat.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for drying the charge of a unit that treats petroleum cuts with a low water charge that consists in injecting a hydrolysable chemical compound into said charge. The quantity of the chemical compound injected is at least equal to the quantity necessary for all the water contained in the charge to react by hydrolysis with said chemical compound. The invention finds its application in units that treat petroleum cuts and whose operation is sensitive to the presence of water in their charges, in particular the paraffin base hydrocarbon isomerisation units. One drawing.