Abstract: The present invention provides an exercise machine having parallel ski bases on which skis are rollably or slidably engaged, the skis having foot restraints for receiving a user's feet. An upright ski pole is attached at an end to each ski using a pivot connection, and the ski pole is also pivotally connected to a fulcrum at a point near the midpoint of the ski pole. The fulcrum comprises a brace attached to a frame. The ski poles provide support to a user and are pushed and pulled for upper-body exercise. Where the user has little or no lower-body muscle control, the ski poles function as supports and levers to transfer a passive, reciprocating, back and forth motion to the user's legs. Alternatively, the exercise machine can be used for active exercise of both the upper and lower body. The exercise matching provides access for persons with physical handicaps and support for such users in the standing position, thereby allowing such persons to exercise while standing.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for visbreaking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the liquid state, whereby the feedstock is brought to an appropriate temperature to cause cracking of at least part of the hydrocarbons present, and is then introduced into the bottom of a soaker (3) wherein it travels from bottom to top, and is then discharged from the top of said soaker (3) and directed to a fractionation unit, the improvement wherein a preferably inert gas is injected into the hydrocarbon feedstock inside the soaker (3), in the vicinity of the soaker side walls, at least at the bottom of the soaker (3) and the gas is injected upward along the side walls of the soaker (3) and flows from bottom to top along said walls co-currently with the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: The invention concerns a petroleum product and a process for the production of a petroleum product which can form part of a blend for an internal combustion engine fuel, the process comprisinga) hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock at a partial pressure of hydrogen at the reactor outlet of about 0.5 MPa to about 6 MPa,b) separating a product (P) from step a) into a product (P1) with a final boiling point of about 300.degree. C. and a product (P2) with an initial boiling point greater than the final boiling point of product (P1),c) performing a liquid-liquid extraction with a solvent (S1), to produce an extract (E1) and a raffinate (R1) from product (P2),d) recovering solvent (S1) from raffinate (R1) to produce a product (Q1), depleted in solvent (S1), which has improved qualities and contains less than 500 ppm by weight of sulphur.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the uniform dense pack filling of particles of a solid catalyst (6) in a tubular reactor, of the type comprising a plurality of vertical tubes (2) opening at their upper end at the surface of a tube plate, which connects them together and is substantially parallel to them, and having above the tube plate, a system for the uniform distribution in a falling rain of the particles of catalyst, the improvement including:an initial cylindrical wall adapted to rest around and above the tube plate, andcylindrical walls of successively smaller diameters (formed from the initial wall or separately) being also adapted to rest in succession on the tube plate in order to separate the tubes then currently completely filled with catalyst from the tubes not completely filled.

Abstract: A battery charger and method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with an initial charging current and measuring and comparing the charging temperature to an initial temperature to identify a temperature factor which either identifies a need to lower the current or terminate the charging current. The temperature factor may be a temperature gradient .DELTA.T. The open circuit voltage may be monitored from the beginning or may begin when .DELTA.T is identified. V.sub.OCV is plotted with respect to time t elapsed to identify a point or points on the V.sub.OCV (t) curve, such as an inflection point in the dV.sub.OCV /dt data or a transition point in the d.sup.2 V.sub.OCV /dt.sup.2 which indicate the onset of overcharge. If the open circuit voltage V.sub.OCV of the battery is sampled from the beginning of charging the second order differential information should be ignored until a predetermined temperature gradient is realized.

Abstract: A novel aqueous solution for the one step impregnation of catalytic supports, catalysts prepared from such solution, and the preparation and the use of catalysts prepared thereby. The catalysts prepared are used in the hydrotreatment of petroleum fractions and particularly in hydrodesulfurization and/or denitrogenization. The solution is a combination of at least one compound of a metal from group IVa (e.g. Zr), at least one compound of a metal from group VIa (e.g. Mo or W), at least one compound of a metal from group VIII (e.g. Co or Ni), and at least one water soluble amine (e.g. ethylenediamine or MEA).

Abstract: This invention includes repair of an existing underground sump without the need for costly and time consuming excavation. A plurality of liner-forming pieces are placed inside the underground sump to create a liner preferably substantially conforming to the interior dimensions of the sump. The pieces are joined together to form a unitary containment shell by first taping and then using fiberglass cloth and fiberglass resin. A layer of gel-coat is applied to the surface of the shell to create a fluidtight containment chamber within the sump. Some of the liner-forming pieces can have openings formed therein to accommodate the pipe entries corresponding to those in the sump.

Abstract: The stacking device for printed products includes a rotatable turntable platform for stacking articles, an ejection assembly for ejecting stacks of articles from the platform, and a positioning device for positioning the turntable for two direction ejection. The positioning device allows the turntable to be arranged for ejecting stacks either parallel or normal to a direction in which articles are fed into the stacking device. This versatility of output allows the stacking device to be incorporated into a plant arrangement more easily and reduces floor space and expense of the entire system. The stacking device also includes an article receiving portion which receives and accommodates articles of differing heights without changing an infeed location of the stacking device.

Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity of a liquid heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of bringing said feedstock to a temperature capable of cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons present in said feedstock and introducing said feedstock into a bottom portion of a maturation device (i.e. a "soaker"), where the feedstock is displaced from the bottom upwards, to get evacuated from a top portion of the soaker towards a fractioning unit. The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a soaker in which are located, transversely to the direction of displacement of the feedstock to be treated, a plurality of annular discs spaced apart from one another, each disc comprising a circular central passage substantially coaxial to the soaker, the treated feedstock circulating from the bottom portion upwards in the soaker through the central passages of the various annular discs.

Abstract: A process for blending paint to match an existing finish. A first color imparting component is first provided, in an amount proportionate to a paint formulation, and mixed with a base coat reducer to obtain a first reduced component. A second color imparting component is also provided, in an amount proportionate to the amount of the first color imparting component according to the paint formulation, and mixed with a base coat reducer to obtain a second reduced component. A portion of the first reduced component is then mixed with a portion of the second reduced component to obtain a base paint. The base paint is tested by applying the base paint onto a surface and allowing it to dry to obtain a painted surface, and comparing the painted surface with an existing finish after simulating a clear coat finish with a lustrous liquid.

Abstract: The container serves for mixing and measuring multi-phase fluids which are conducted in via a supply tube. The liquid and gaseous components are separated in the container and collected into a liquid volume as well as a gas volume. A liquid surface forms at the separating layer between the gas volume and the liquid volume, the actual height of which is measured by a sensor. The fluids located in the container are drawn back off out of the container in the direction of flow in a flowing manner via a removal apparatus which comprises at least one removal apparatus as well as a drainage means adjoining it and are thereupon mixed. The drainage means is arranged vertical to the liquid surface and has openings which lie partly below and partly above the liquid surface during normal operation of the container. The drainage means has a Venturi nozzle in the region of the inlet opening in order to measure the flow rate of the gaseous component which flows through the inlet opening into the drainage means.

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: An integral tool bit for drilling a rock formation, including a cemented metal carbide holder (30) attached to the tool and joined, e.g. soldered, to a plate (34) in the form of a cylindrical disc made from polycrystalline diamond particles and having a side wall (40), and a substantially flat free surface (36). The plate (34) is positioned so that the plane of its free flat surface (36) is at an acute angle (.alpha.) to a line (N) normal to the surface (25) of the rock formation, and the angle is directed in the same direction as the forward direction (F) of the drill bit so that the plate engages the rock formation with its side wall (40).

Abstract: The rotatable fork-plate of a fork lift truck is mounted to a large-diameter slewing gear, and the slewing bearing fits inside. In place of the usual ball bearing, a plastic strip is curved around into a circle, and placed between the slewing gear and the stator frame. The circle is not complete, in that a circumferential gap is left between the ends. The rotor and stator are formed with suitable faces for supporting journal forces, and thrust forces both ways, via the plastic strip. The preferred profile of the strip is channel-shaped. The strip floats circumferentially between the rotor and the stator. The plastic strip being corrosion free, no seals are provided on the bearing, even for operation near sea-water.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus particularly useful for atomizing a heavy highly viscous liquid into fine droplets (such as petroleum distillate resid to droplets on the order of 100 thousandths of a millimeter), with the aid of at least one auxiliary gas. This employs in a nozzle head an array of a plurality of primary channels and at least two secondary channels associated with each said primary channel. The primary channels each have an inlet end connected to a high pressure source of liquid, and have an outlet end defining an atomization orifice. The secondary channels each have an inlet end being connected to at least one source of auxiliary gas and an outlet end. The outlets of the secondary channels each intersect with a commonly associated primary channel at the same or different locations upstream of the respective atomization orifice at angles of less than 90.degree., typically 45.degree. or less. Liquid is passed through a plurality of primary channels thereby forming a liquid core stream.

Abstract: A fire-extinguishing device is furnished, wherein an aerosol is generated in a single container or in a plurality of containers by burning a solid extinguishing agent. The aerosol streams and flows into the area to be protected along a nondirect path through annular channels or directly through a sieve floor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for dechlorinating a spent lubricating oil fraction, optionally mixed with another hydrocarbon stock. Upstream of the recycling operation in refining the spent oil, the latter is subjected to a dechlorination operation at least partially by passing it on a bed of particles (6) of a composition which neutralizes by absorption and containing, as active compound capable of fixing the chlorine, at least one metal oxide and/or at least one metal hydroxide.