Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an environmental control unit for use in air handling systems that provides highly effective filtration of noxious gases (such as ammonia). Such a filtration system utilizes novel metal-doped silica-based gels to trap and remove such undesirable gases from an enclosed environment. Such gels exhibit specific porosity requirements and density measurements. Furthermore, in order for proper metal doping to take effect, such gels must be treated while in a wet state. The combination of these particular properties and metal dopant permits highly effective noxious gas filtration such that uptake and breakthrough results are attained, particularly in comparison with prior silica gel filtration products. Also included is the presence of an oxidizing agent to aid in capturing nitrous oxide and preventing conversion of such a product to NO. Methods of using and specific filter apparatuses are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: The treatment of cooking oils and fats with specific types of precipitated silica materials to prolong the useful life of such oils and fats within restaurant settings. More particularly, such an invention encompasses the utilization of specific types of precipitated silica materials to filter such oils and/or fats. Such precipitated silica materials and treatments therewith aid to remove large amounts of free fatty acids after such oils and/or fats have been utilized to fry foodstuffs, as well as reduce the amount of additional oil and/or fat potentially necessary to bring the used oils and/or fats up to a level of permitted further utilization within a restaurant environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an environmental control unit for use in air handling systems that provides highly effective filtration of noxious gases (such as ammonia). Such a filtration system utilizes novel metal-doped silica-based gels to trap and remove such undesirable gases from an enclosed environment. Such gels exhibit specific porosity requirements and density measurements. Furthermore, in order for proper metal doping to take effect, such gels must be treated while in a wet state. The combination of these particular properties and metal dopant permits highly effective noxious gas filtration such that uptake and breakthrough results are attained, particularly in comparison with prior silica gel filtration products. Methods of using and specific filter apparatuses are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: An environmental control for use in air handling systems that are required to provide highly effective filtration of noxious gases is provided. In one embodiment, a filtration system utilizes a novel combination of at least one metal-doped silica-based gel and zeolite materials to trap and/or modify, and remove such undesirable gases (such as ammonia, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, and nitrous oxide, as examples) from an enclosed environment. The gel component exhibits specific porosity requirements and density measurements; the zeolite component is generally acidic and is preferably not reacted with any salts or like substances. The novel combination of such gels and zeolites permits highly effective noxious gas filtration over a wide range of known toxic industrial chemicals such that excellent breakthrough results are attained, particularly in comparison with prior media filtration products.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an environmental control unit for use in air handling systems that provides highly effective filtration of noxious gases (such as ammonia). Such a filtration system utilizes novel metal-doped silica-based gels to trap and remove such undesirable gases from an enclosed environment. Such gels exhibit specific porosity requirements and density measurements. Furthermore, in order for proper metal doping to take effect, such gels must be treated while in a wet state. The combination of these particular properties and metal dopant permits highly effective noxious gas filtration such that uptake and breakthrough results are attained, particularly in comparison with prior silica gel filtration products. Also included is the presence of an oxidizing agent to aid in capturing nitrous oxide and preventing conversion of such a product to NO. Methods of using and specific filter apparatuses are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for reading data from a storage controller in storage area network. A read data instruction is received from an application requesting data from the storage controller using a primary data path. If the data on the primary data path is not transferred in a defined time interval using the primary data path, data is requested from the storage controller using one or more alternative data paths. Data is received from the storage controller on one of data paths and into a buffer. When the read instruction has completed and that the data is in the buffer, the application is notified. Each data path is associated with a buffer and the data is received into a buffer associated with the path. The application is informed which buffer holds the data and the application accesses the data from this buffer.

Abstract: Described is an oil-degradable ball sealer for use in the oil and gas industry. The ball seal comprises a particular composition including ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, prepared by an injection molding technique to provide a ball sealer which will dissolve in stimulation or wellbore fluids after stimulation operations are complete. The composition, when dissolved into wellbore fluids, does not pose a hazard or problem to aqueous wellbore fluids or further wellbore stimulations.

Abstract: A high strength composite particle comprised of a series of incrementally applied resin microlayer coatings such that each of the microlayer partial coatings are interleaved with each other is described. Methods of making the composite particles, as well as methods of using such particles as a proppant in oil and gas well hydraulic fracturing are also described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating turbulence-induced noise in a pulsation-absorbing flexible hose, as in a hydraulic power steering system containing a pressure fluid-feeding pump and a steering gear operated by the pressure fluid discharged from the pump. The hose has a restrictor positioned in the hose bore, and the restrictor has a flow-through bore of smaller diameter than that of the adjacent wall of the hose bore. The flow-through bore has a venturi tube cross section. The restrictor venturi inlet, throat and outlet are designed so as to efficiently conduct fluid therethrough by matching the characteristics of the fluid, the operational pressures, fluid density and other system parameters such that the venturi operates below the lower critical value of the Reynolds number of fluid flow through the restrictor to thereby minimize or eliminate fluid turbulence in the restrictor outlet and/or immediately downstream thereof.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for stimulating single and multiple intervals in subterranean wells by diverting well treatment fluids into a particular direction or into multiple intervals using water soluble coated diverting agents are described. The water soluble coating of the diverting material is preferably a collagen, poly(alkylene) oxide, poly(lactic acid), polyvinylacetate, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylacetate/polyvinylalcohol polymer or a mixture thereof applied as a coating on any number of proppants. The method allows for the diverting of the flow of fluids in a downhole formation during a well treatment, such as during a fracturing process. Following completion of a treatment such as a hydraulic stimulation, the soluble diverting agent can be dissolved and removed by the water component of the well production.

Abstract: A power steering assembly is provided that enables a secure, simultaneous connection of supply and return hose assemblies to a steering gear. The assembly includes a mounting bracket having an aperture through which one of the hose assemblies extends and a notch configured to receive the other hose assembly. The bracket is deformable such that the other hose assembly can be secured within the notch after insertion. The pressure and return hose assemblies include either a connector having opposed shoulders on either side of the bracket or are deformed to create beads on either side of the bracket to restrict movement thereby eliminating welds or brazes. Each of the hose assemblies further includes a groove formed to receive a seal. These grooves on the external portion of the hose assemblies reduce costly machining on the steering gear head.

Abstract: Coated composite proppant particles made of particulate substrates having an elastomeric coating are provided for use in reducing particulate flowback in subterranean formations. The disclosed proppant particles can have a coating of resin, fibrous materials, and/or soluble resin coatings in addition to an elastomeric coating. Methods of making the coated particles are also described, as well as their use in subterranean formations.

Abstract: Precipitated silica product having low surface area and enhanced flavor compatibility. The precipitated silica product is especially well-adapted for use in dentifrices containing cetylpyridinium chloride, which do not attach to the low surface area silica product in a meaningful level and thus remain available for antimicrobial action. Processes for making the low surface area silica product are also provided.

Abstract: Coated particle substrates having a coating of resin and/or water soluble polymers and soluble, fibrous material are provided for use in subterranean formations. The coated particle substrate particles are typically proppants used to prop open subterranean hydrocarbon formations during recovery processes, such as after a hydraulic fracture, and provide both improved settling characteristics and improved hydrocarbon flow characteristics due to the conductive channels formed by the soluble fibers downhole. Methods of making the coated particles are also described.

Abstract: Multiple sheet set compiling in a compiler of the seriatim output of printed sheets from a printer with a sheet entry position and a lateral sheet tamping system for laterally tamping the sheets being stacked in the compiler, in which the accumulated stack height of the sheets being compiled is estimated, and in response thereto the height of the top of the lateral sheet tamping system is raised to be maintained above the top of that rising (thicker) stack in the compiler, and lowered for the initial sheets stacking, and the compiler sheet entry position is also automatically raised in proportion to the increasing height of the stack of sheets being compiled in the compiler.

Abstract: Precipitated silica product having low surface area and enhanced flavor compatibility. The precipitated silica product is especially well-adapted for use in dentifrices containing cetylpyridinium chloride, which do not attach to the low surface area silica product in a meaningful level and thus remain available for antimicrobial action. Processes for making the low surface area silica product are also provided.

Abstract: A disk stacker system for delivering selectively inverted substrate assemblies into a receiving tray. By alternating inverted with non-inverted substrate assemblies or otherwise grouping inverted and non-inverted substrate assemblies, handling of folded printed material is made more efficient and packing of the folded printed material is made more dense and efficient. The disk stacker system operates by delivering selected substrate assemblies directly to the output tray and bypassing the disk stacker inverting apparatus and by delivering other substrate assemblies to the disk stacker apparatus for inversion prior to delivery to the output tray.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds having the formula: wherein Rf is CnF2n+1—(CH2)m—, wherein n is 1 to 22 and m is 0, or an integer from 1 to 3; X is —CO2—, —SO3—, —CONH—, —O—, —S— a covalent bond, —SO2NR—, or —NR—, wherein R is H or C1 to C5 alkylene; Y is —CH2— wherein z is 0 or 1; and R1 is H, lower alkyl or Rf—X—Yz— with the provisos that when X is —S—, or —O—, m is 0, sand z is 0, n is ≧7 and when X is a covalent bond, m or z is at least 1, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A flexible electrically conductive track including an elongated flexible insulating member (150) providing at least one longitudinally extending slot (159) to receive an electric conductor (158). The conductor (158) includes a pair of generally parallel co-extensive contact strips (165) joined by a plurality of transverse ribs (166). The slots (159) are closed by resiliently displaceable flanges (161) which are displaced to provide access to the conductor (158).

Abstract: A method in an imaging system for automatically selecting a copy substrate from multiple substrate trays and for improving the productivity and imaging of the copy substrates. The method includes comparison of the dimensions of the copy substrate to the dimensions of the input document in order to automatically select a copy substrate, automatically rotate digital information in order to align the orientation of input and copy documents, center imaging information onto the copy substrate, and to perform various AutoFit functions.