Abstract: A sample cell for use in X-ray fluorescence devices employs a ring and cup combination to support a radiation-permeable membrane through which a sample is analyzed. The ring component has a protruding lip that is configured to enable the cell to more readily drop into a receiving groove formed about the analyzer aperture.

Abstract: A method of controlling the system pressure in a power generating system, having a turbine-generator and a BWR, that modulates the core thermal power of the reactor while maintaining the main turbine control valves in a constant steady position is described. The core thermal power may be adjusted by adjusting the control rod density within the reactor core or by adjusting the flow rate through the reactor which may be accomplished by modulating the speed of variable frequency recirculation pumps or by modulating recirculation flow control valves. The method includes transferring the power generation system from normal turbine control valve modulation pressure control to core thermal power modulation pressure control. Additionally the method includes modifying the bypass valve closure bias and the power control bias to accommodate the variances from core power modulation pressure control over normal pressure control.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel includes an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The scalpel has a cartridge removably mounted to the handle that has a blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end. There is a blade fixedly attached to blade holder disposed so that the blade projects distally outwardly when the cartridge is mounted on the handle. The cartridge also has a shield with a proximal end, a distal end and a bottom mounted onto the blade holder. The shield is slidably movable between a distal position where the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position where the shield substantially surrounds a portion of the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The cartridge is releasably mountable to the handle and has elements for substantially preventing movement of the shield with respect to the blade holder unless the cartridge is mounted on the handle.

Abstract: A scalpel of the present invention includes an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The scalpel of the invention further includes a cartridge that is removably mounted to the handle. The cartridge has blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end with a blade fixedly attached that is disposed so that the blade projects distally outwardly when the cartridge is mounted to the handle. The cartridge also includes a shield that is slidably mounted onto the blade holder for movement between a distal position where the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position where the shield substantially surrounds a portion of the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The cartridge is releasably mountable on the handle. The shield is substantially prevented from movement to the proximal position unless the cartridge is mounted on the handle and not dismountable from the handle unless the shield is in the distal position.

Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling together at least two electrical conductors in electrically conductive relationship to each other is disclosed. The connector is a plastic, nonconducting block encasing an electrically conductive bus exchange. The bus exchange is a conductive metal sheet with at least one rolled, hollow portion for receiving and electrically coupling a pair of said electrical conductors. The rolled portion includes two crimps disposed approximately at the rolled portion in mirror opposition which serve as respective contact stops for the electrical conductors. The electrical conductors preferably comprise insulated electrical wires with stripped ends, the stripped ends being received in the electrically conductive bus exchange. The block includes longitudinal bores for receiving the electrical wires to be connected.

Abstract: An enhanced protection system for protecting against transient overpower in a boiling water nuclear reactor which automatically adjusts the reactor over-power protection trip setpoints to be a controlled margin above the operating power level, so that enhanced fuel and reactor protection is provided at all power levels.

Abstract: An improved prophylaxis cup (10) formed of a silicone elastomer incorporated with a pumice material (17) uniformly incorporated throughout the cup and mounted on a mounting button (11) in a non-disposable dental handpiece (110 ) is described. After a teeth cleaning procedure, the prophylaxis cup is disposed of and the mounting button and the dental handpiece are sterilized for reuse. The mounting button is comprised of a bulbous mounting head (23) having a circular cross-section that mates with a similarly shaped cavity (19) in a mounting section (13) of the cup. The cavity is preferably about 5 to 15 percent smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the mounting head so that the cup must be stretched over the mounted head for mounting the cup on the mounting button. A working section (15) of the cup is provided with a conical recess (15c) that wears down as the teeth are being cleaned to provide continuous application of fresh abrasive to the tooth surface.

Abstract: An improved prophylactic cup device (10, 100) comprised of a prophylactic cup (12, 102) mounted on a mounting screw (14, 104) is described. In the preferred embodiment, the prophylactic cup is molded from a silicone polymer containing a dental cleaning and polishing agent such as pumice and is mounted onto a circular cross-sectioned mounting screw comprised of a shaft (14a) with a threaded portion (14c) and a head (14b). The head provides for cylindrical inlet or channel portions (14g) and (14h), and retaining slots (14i) and (14j). Since silicone polymers are poorly adherent to any surface and because the strength of silicone polymers is greatly reduced by the addition of pumice, the channels and retaining slots increase the contact surface area between the prophylactic cup and the mounting screw. This allows the prophylactic cup device to be mounted on a dental handpiece and to be used to clean teeth and gingival crevices without a dental paste.

Abstract: The present invention concerns loose-lay floor structures comprising at least two layers of reinforcing material and processes to design and produce them. Loose-lay floors may be designed which will be suitable for use over stable subfloors, or which will accommodate the movement of very unstable subfloors. Flooring constructed according to this invention will have the ability to resist buckling, curling and doming, and will resist moving under a rolling load. A process is also provided for modifying structures comprising a single reinforcing layer in situ so as to convert structures with unacceptable buckling characteristics into structures with acceptable buckling characteristics. As an alternative, the reinforcing layer may be premodified such that, when used to provide a surface covering, the covering will have acceptable buckling characteristics.

Abstract: A process and solution for delignifying and brightening lignocellulosic pulp. The solution comprises from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight, based on oven-dried pulp of a peroxide and about 0.5 to about 20 mole percent, based on the moles of peroxide, of a metal ion selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, osmium and selenium. The preferred process of this invention comprises contacting a lignocellulosic pulp with about 0.5 to about 20 mole percent, based on moles of peroxide, of a metal ion selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, osmium and selenium at a temperature below about 50.degree. C.; adjusting the pH of the resultant pulp slurry to between about 1 and about 7; adding 0.1 to about 5% by weight based on oven-dried pulp of peroxide and effecting pulp delignification and brightening at about 30.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. until most of the peroxide has been consumed.

Abstract: A chlorine-free bleaching process for lignocellulosic pulp characterized by a series of bleaching stages comprising in sequence a peroxide bleaching stage, the peroxide being selected from the group consisting of alkaline hydrogen peroxide, acidic hydrogen peroxide, and peroxy acid and at least one ozone bleaching stage and in one embodiment the sequence including an initial oxygen bleaching stage before the peroxide bleaching stage. In continuous operation the effluent from each of these sequential stages provides the preferred wash for the preceding washing step and the diluent for the preceding bleaching stage, the final effluent being recyclable for effective closed cycle operation.

Abstract: A process for delignifying lignocellulosic pulps, which comprises the steps of (a) impregnating a lignocellulosic pulp slurry with a water-soluble manganous salt having a manganous ion concentration of from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of oven-dried pulp; (b) mixing the impregnated pulp slurry with an amount of alkali equal to the stoichiometric quantity of alkali required to precipitate the soluble manganous ion as insoluble manganous hydroxide; (c) aerating the pulp slurry with an oxygen-containing gas without further addition of alkali and in the absence of alkali for a period of time sufficient to oxidize substantially all of the manganous hydroxide to manganic hydroxide; (d) treating the pulp slurry with sufficient sulfuric acid to lower the slurry pH to at least about 3, thus releasing soluble manganic ions to oxidize the pulp lignins; (e) separating the effluent containing manganous ions from the pulp slurry with a non-alkaline wash; and then (f) extracting the oxidized lignins from the pulp slurry

Abstract: A process for the delignification of a lignocellulosic material, which comprises the steps of: (a) digesting the lignocellulosic material with an aqueous, alkaline pulping liquor containing from about 0.1% to about 10% based on the weight of oven-dried lignocellulosic material, of a cyclic amino compound selected from the group consisting of phenazine, dihydrophenazine, quinoxaline, and their alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy and amino derivatives at a temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. for a period of from about 5 to about 480 minutes; and then (b) removing the aqueous pulping liquor from the lignocellulosic material with water or an aqueous wash liquor inert to the lignocellulosic material to obtain a delignified cellulosic material.

Abstract: A wood pulp slurry, at a consistency of 0.1% to 10% by weight and having a pH ranging from 1 to 7, is bleached with ozone in the presence of 0.1% to 1.0% by weight of a cationic surfactant.

Abstract: A three stage process for pulping lignocellulosic materials, preferably softwood chips comprising: as a first stage treating the lignocellulosic material with a cyanide ion-containing solution at a pH between 7 and 12 to form cyanohydrin groups; in a second stage digesting the thus treated lignocellulosic material with an alkali metal pulping solution containing hydroxyl ions; and as a third stage treating the thus digested lignocellulosic material with 1% to 12% by weight sodium hydroxide, as sodium oxide based on o.d. pulp from the alkaline pulping stage, in the presence of an excess of oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention concerns loose-lay floor structures comprising at least two layers of reinforcing material and processes to design and produce them. Loose-lay floors may be designed which will be suitable for use over stable subfloors, or which will accommodate the movement of very unstable subfloors. Flooring constructed according to this invention will have the ability to resist buckling, curling and doming, and will resist moving under a rolling load. A process is also provided for modifying structures comprising a single reinforcing layer in situ so as to convert structures with unacceptable buckling characteristics into structures with acceptable buckling characteristics. As an alternative, the reinforcing layer may be premodified such that, when used to provide a surface covering, the covering will have acceptable buckling characteristics.