Abstract: A technique for providing enhanced advertising over the Internet or an intranet is disclosed. In one embodiment, an advertiser advertises a product or service in the usual manner except that an alphanumeric code is identified in the advertisement. The consumer, desiring additional information regarding the advertisement, uses the Internet to log onto a particular website common to all the advertisers (the service provider's website) and then enters the code for the ad. The particular code then accesses an enhanced ad (a web page) that may be specifically directed to a particular geographic location or otherwise customized for the particular consumer. The enhanced ad may allow the customer to obtain coupons, purchase the product or obtain additional information.

Abstract: In a combustion method, in a burner (12, 20), a fuel/air mixture flowing through a flow passage (13) is made to react in a first combustion stage in a catalytic reactor (15), and downstream of the catalytic reactor (15) fuel is burnt together with the exhaust gas from the catalytic reactor (15) in a second combustion stage to form a homogenous flame (17) by self-ignition. If the fuel from the fuel/air mixture is only partially burnt in the first combustion stage in the catalytic reactor (15), and the unburnt remainder of the fuel is burnt in the second combustion stage, combustion can be stabilized by virtue of the fact that the fuel-containing exhaust gas from the catalytic reactor (15), between the outlet of the catalytic reactor (15) and the homogenous flame (17) is passed through devices 916, 19) which aerodynamically stabilize the homogenous flame (17).

Abstract: A liquid crystal polarization rotator device is able to rotate polarization fast enough to compensate polarization mode dispersion. The amount or degree of rotation is rapidly reconfigurable. The device includes a cavity filled with a nematic liquid crystal material. The cavity has electrodes on a first face, e.g., a first substrate, and electrodes on a second face, e.g., a second substrate, opposite the first face. The electrodes are shaped and positioned to produce an electric field across the cavity capable of rotating the alignment direction of the molecules of the liquid crystal material in the cavity. The electrodes are patterned on the ends of optical fibers. Aligning and positioning of the electrodes on the ends of the optical fibers with a predetermined spacing forms the cavity that is filled with the nematic liquid crystal material. The filled cavity is a so-called liquid crystal microcell wave plate.

Abstract: In drying the interior of an indoor unit, room humidity (Rh) is detected by a humidity sensor, and a drying operation cycle, in which after first heating operation, which is weak heating operation in which a compressor included in a refrigerating cycle is operated at a low rotational speed, has been performed for a predetermined period of time, second heating operation, which is heating operation close to air blowing operation in which the compressor is stopped, is performed for a predetermined period of time, is repeated a predetermined number of times according to the room humidity (Rh). Thus, the indoor unit's interior can be dried properly without occurrence of dew condensation therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for removing water from a hydride gas, and particularly ammonia, by contacting the hydride gas with a drying agent under conditions for effecting removal of the water. The improvement for significantly reducing the water content to trace levels in said hydride gas resides in the use of at least Group 1 metal oxide and at least one Group 2 metal oxide as a drying agent.

Abstract: A boot dryer device, an associated kit for assembling the boot dryer device and a method of using same are disclosed for use in conveniently drying a pair of wet boots. The boot dryer device includes a T-junction conduit and an adaptor sleeve. The T-junction conduit has an input port and two outlet vent ports. The adaptor sleeve is operationally attached to the T-junction conduit so that it can efficiently transfer heated air from an electric air dryer into a pair of wet boots hung from the T-junction conduit. The kit includes the unconnected components of the device. The method includes the steps of enveloping, hanging, obtaining, plugging, pulling, removing, slipping, switching, turning, unplugging, and wrapping.

Abstract: A hair dryer, includes a casing, an electric blower adapted to draw air into the casing from an intake port and blow the air out an exhaust port, one or more electric heating elements disposed to heat the air as it passes through the casing, a power selector switch having two or more wattage settings and adapted to adjust the electrical power supplied to the heating elements, and wherein the power selector switch is designed to be substantially inaccessible to the user.

Abstract: Atmospheric gas burner for a cooking appliance comprising: a burner head with a lateral perimeter wall defining a distribution chamber provided with flame orifices; a gas injector; means for conveying primary air to downstream of the injector; and a venturi directing the gas/air mixture towards the distribution chamber; at least one region of the lateral wall, free of flame orifices, is pierced with a through-aperture and a passage isolated from the distribution chamber is established in the burner head to connect the aperture to the injector, this aperture and this passage having cross sections which ensure a stream of primary air from the outside of the burner head with a flow rate appropriate to the operation of the burner.

Abstract: A heater in which, during the glow plug ramp time interval, the amount of energy supplied per unit of time to the glow plug/flame monitor can be successively changed, and a control unit which is operationally coupled to the glow plug/flame monitor. To enable continuous flame monitoring during the starting phase of the heater with the control unit, the resistance value of the glow plug/flame monitor is determined during the glow plug ramp time interval and compared to a threshold value RGS, and when the threshold value RGS is not reached, a flame-out signal is generated.

Abstract: A drier for objects, particularly for vehicle bodies, comprises, in a per se known manner, a housing in which is formed a drying chamber which accommodates the objects. In the said drying chamber, the objects are subjected to an IR radiation generated by at least one catalytic radiator. The drier can be used as a device for purifying air which contains pollutants, in that the intake air supplied to the drying chamber is routed exclusively via the catalytically active layer of the catalytic radiator, so that the organic impurities contained in the intake air can be catalytically oxidized there in a controlled manner. In this case, the catalytic radiator must be of heat-resistant design, such that it does not require air cooling. Both unpurified air, originating from another location, and the air containing organic impurities which is produced in the drier itself can be purified in the drier.

Abstract: A damper for a burner includes a gate plate that moves generally parallel to the inlet of a blower housing of the burner. The gate plate rotates parallel to the inlet and is sized and positioned so that it can rotate between a position completely covering the inlet and a position leaving the inlet completely uncovered. A seal assembly between the gate plate and the inlet substantially seals a gap between the gate plate and the inlet. An actuator moves the gate plate automatically to close the damper or open the damper to any of a plurality of open damper positions.

Abstract: An insulating flight for a dryer incorporates inner and outer plates with insulation between them. The concave surfaces of the inner and outer plates provide a space for the insulation and allow for thermal expansion without stressing the welds between the inner and outer plates.

Abstract: A livestock cooling system creates an environment for protecting the health and productivity of animals, particularly dairy cows. One or more cooling fans are connected to programmable oscillation means, enabling the herds man to program fan oscillation according to the location of the livestock. Water is injected under high pressure into the air stream of the fans to create a fog. The system is also programmable according to various environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind velocity. The pressure and volume of the injected water are programmable and may be adjusted by the controller according to the observed environmental conditions. The disclosed system provides a cool and healthy environment for livestock, where the environment is programmed to track the animals according to the time of day, location of the animals and the location of shade.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a substrate using an isopropyl alcohol vapor includes a container for receiving an isopropyl alcohol vapor to dry a plurality of substrates wherein an opening is vertically formed through an upper portion of the container to permit the loading and unloading of the substrates; a supporting member for supporting the plurality of substrates in the container in a vertical direction and for supporting the substrates side by side in a horizontal direction, wherein the supporting member extends through the container and through the opening; and a cover for obstructing a flow of clean air from flowing directly from an air cleaner disposed over the container into the container through the opening. In addition, the apparatus may include an inert gas supplying member to supply an inert gas onto the substrates to prevent native oxide films from forming on the substrates.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) is provided for passing a fluid through a solid material (5). Apparatus (1) has an enclosure (2) with an upper part (7) in which the solid material is received. The solid material flows downward through one or more passages (13) which extend between end walls (11 and 12). Opposing sides of the or each passage are formed by side plates (14, 15) of fluid inlet and outled ducts (9, 10). The side plates are perforated so that fluid can pass transversely through the solid material flowing through each passage. The inlet and outlet ducts (9 and 10) have inlet parts (16 and 17) respectively, outside the enclosure. Solid material arrives at a lower part (8) of the enclosure and then leaves the enclosure. The apparatus (1) can be made compactly for the degree of fluid/solid contact provided. It is applicable to many applications such as drying of solids, heat exchange between fluids and solids, dust removal from gases, chemical reactors and humidifying/dehumidifying of fluids.

Abstract: A variable wood burning tool for burning woods at varying temperatures and providing alternate uses essentially comprised of a container and a lid hingedly secured thereto. An interior surface of the lid has a heat resistant tray disposed therein. A heating element is disposed within the container. A burning wand is operatively coupled with the heating element. A plurality of tips are provided that are each adapted for removably coupling with the burning wand.

Abstract: A through-air dryer is disclosed. The through-air dryer includes a cylindrical deck made from a plurality of deck plates that support a throughdrying fabric. The deck plates are supported by opposing hubs. Each of the hubs is in communication with the bearing that is mounted to a stationary shaft for allowing the cylindrical deck and the hubs to rotate. The bearings are positioned so as to create a through-air dryer structure that remains stable during operation and allows for easy calculation of loads on the dryer.

Abstract: A burner arrangement for a heating device, particularly a vehicle heating device, comprising a combustion chamber (18) and a flame tube (22) conducting the combustion products away from the combustion chamber (18), having an inlet region (28) near the combustion chamber (18) at which combustion products enter the flame tube (22) and an outlet region (36) at which combustion products leave the flame tube (22). At least one intermediate outlet region (42) between the inlet region (28) and the outlet region (36), in which intermediate outlet region (42) a portion of the combustion products can emerge from the flame tube (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor (1) having a supply of a reaction mixture via channels (2) of a burner block (3) in a reaction chamber (4), a high temperature reaction having a short residence time taking place in the reaction chamber (4) and the reaction mixture then being rapidly cooled in a quench area (5). In the reactor (1), all surfaces delineating the reaction chamber (4) are formed from a fire-resistant ceramic having an alumina content of at least 80% by weight, which is stable at reaction temperature.

Abstract: A blow box (18) for supporting the web run in a paper machine or the like, which blow box comprises members for maintaining a negative pressure at least in one negative pressure region (24) between the wire (20) and the blow box. The members comprise a blocking member (30, 32), which is arranged, regarding the wire's running direction, at the beginning and/or at the end of said negative pressure region, which extends across the wire and projects towards the wire, and which is movable in relation to the blow box, and blowing members (34, 36), with which air is ejected with blows between said blocking member and the wire from said negative pressure region and/or with which air is prevented from entering this negative pressure region.