Abstract: A dilator formed with a truss with a pair of spaced-apart end surfaces that provides a restoring force therebetween if forced toward one another, this restoring force provided by a resilient band extending between the opposite ends of the truss with a plurality of notches located at each of the ends thereof. The notches exceed at least a third of the thickness of the band and may comprise a separation at the location thereof between selected portions of said first resilient band with this separation surrounded by a corresponding separation edge thereabout intersecting a first surface of the first resilient band. A second and similar band may also be provided in the truss.

Abstract: A nasal dilator that prevents the outer wall tissue of the nasal passages of the nose from drawing in during breathing comprises a truss member. The truss member includes a flexible strip of base material having a first end region, a second end region and an intermediate segment. The first and second end regions are adapted to engage the outer wall tissue of first and second nasal passages of the nose. The intermediate segment is configured to traverse a portion of a nose located between the first and second nasal passages. The truss member further includes first and second resilient bands secured to the strip of material adjacent opposite edges of the intermediate segment. The resiliency of the first and second resilient bands acts to stabilize the outer wall tissue and thereby prevents the outer wall tissue of the first and second nasal passages from drawing in during breathing. The truss member further includes an attachment void region located between the resilient bands and the strip of base material.

Abstract: A nasal dilator that prevents the outer wall tissue of the nasal passages of the nose from drawing in during breathing comprises a truss member. The truss member includes a flexible strip of material having a first end region, a second end region and an intermediate segment. The first and second end regions are adapted to engage the outer wall tissue of first and second nasal passages of the nose. The intermediate segment is configured to traverse a portion of a nose located between the first and second nasal passages. The truss member further includes first and second resilient bands secured to the strip of material adjacent opposite edges of the intermediate segment. The resiliency of the first and second resilient bands acts to stabilize the outer wall tissue and thereby prevents the outer wall tissue of the first and second nasal passages from drawing in during breathing.

Abstract: A nasal dilator that prevents the outer wall tissue of the nasal passages of the nose from drawing in during breathing comprises a truss member. The truss member includes a flexible strip of material having a first end region, a second end region and an intermediate segment. The first and second end regions are adapted to engage the outer wall tissue of first and second nasal passages of the nose. The intermediate segment is configured to traverse a portion of a nose located between the first and second nasal passages. The truss member further includes first and second resilient bands secured to the strip of material adjacent opposite edges of the intermediate segment. The resiliency of the first and second resilient bands acts to stabilize the outer wall tissue and thereby prevents the outer wall tissue of the first and second nasal passages from drawing in during breathing.

Abstract: A dilator formed with a truss with a pair of spaced-apart end surfaces that provides a restoring force therebetween if forced toward one another, this restoring force provided by a resilient band extending between the opposite ends of the truss with a plurality of notches at each end thereof. The notches exceed at least a third of the thickness of the band. A second and similar band may also be provided in the truss.

Abstract: An improved process for eliminating the liquid blowdown stream from the wet flue gas scrubbing equipment of an incinerator system. The liquid blowdown stream from the main wet scrubbing system is mixed with a hot flue gas slipstream. The water is evaporated and the residual solids are removed, thereby producing a dry waste stream for disposal and a solids-free flue gas slipstream for exhaust.

Abstract: Aryl ester-grafter polyphenylene ethers are prepared by heating a polyphenylene ether with an olefinic aryl ester, usually an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl acrylate. The products react with lactams such as .epsilon.-caprolactam in the presence of lactam polymerization catalysts to produce phenylene ether-amide copolymers.

Abstract: A system for removing brine from oil well production (12) in which fresh water (50) or less saline water (50) is passed in counterflow to the oil well production (12) through electric fields established between a plurality of composite electrodes (26). The electrodes (26) are of a laminar construction having a centrally located conductive member (30) surrounded by an electrically nonconductive region (28). With a nonmodulated voltage supply (144) connected to conductive member (30) a plurality of electric fields, some having uniform gradient and others having nonuniform gradient, are established between adjacent composite electrodes (26) in the direction of flow of both the oil well production (12) and the dilution water (50). Composite grids (26) have an inherent current regulating characteristic that reduces the tendency for arcing and suppresses sustained arcing should an arc occur.

Abstract: Mixtures of polyphenylene ethers, lactams such as .epsilon.-caprolactam and lactam polymerization catalysts, preferably basic reagents, may be polymerized. There is preferably also present a lactam polymerization promoter, especially a functionalized polyphenylene ether. Polymerization produces resinous compositions including phenylene etheramide copolymers, especially block and/or graft copolymers. Said resinous compositions may be molded into articles having a number of advantageous properties.

Abstract: Electrodes, in the form of plates, are held parallel to each other to form passageways in which electrostatic fields are generated when the plates are charged by a source of variable voltage. The variable voltage is programmed to establish an initial electrostatic field strong enough to mix polar and nonpolar fluids. The mixture is then flowed through the electrostatic field which is of the strength needed to coalesce the polar fluids which have united with a contaminant in the nonpolar fluid.

Abstract: A chain particularly useful for draglines in various type strip mining operations is disclosed. The chain is made up of individual, separately assembled links of generally a U-shape having spaced pin lugs at one end. The lugs have aligned pin eyes for holding a pin between them, which is received generally flush with the outside surfaces of the lugs. To prevent pin rotation and to prevent oblong wear in the pin eyes, the pin and the eyes have a flat surface on the side toward the open end of the U-shaped link. With the pin installed in the eyes, a roll pin is press fit through one lug and through that end of the pin to retain the link pin in place. Openings in the lug are oblong shaped, so that some forward and backward movement of the link pin is permitted and the roll pin is never put in a shear situation. The link units are assembled at 90.degree. to one another, with a pin of one link passing through the next link.

Abstract: A chain particularly useful for draglines in various type strip mining operations is disclosed. The chain is made up of individual, separately assembled links of generally a U-shape having spaced pin lugs at one end. The lugs have aligned pin eyes for holding a pin between them, which is received generally flush with the outside surfaces of the lugs. To prevent pin rotation and to prevent oblong wear in the pin eyes, the pin and the eyes have a flat surface on the side toward the open end of the U-shaped link. With the pin installed in the eyes, a keeper is welded onto the flat surface of the pin, extending between the two lugs to retain the pin in place. The units are assembled at 90.degree. to one another, with a pin of one link passing through the next link. The body of the link may be of a more wear-resistant material than the pin so that the easily replaceable pin wears out first.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing activated carbon from dried, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coal by sizing and simultaneously drying and oxidizing, and thereafter activating the sized coal, wherein the improvement comprises acid washing the coal prior to carrying out the said manufacturing method.