Abstract: A pile guide, for supporting a pile as it is driven into a substrate, has a base frame and a pile guide member mounted on the base frame. The base frame comprises one or more substrate-engaging supports, moveable between an inoperative position and an operative position, with movement of the or each substrate-engaging support into the operative position resulting in an increase in the area of the base frame which, in use, rests on the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated process for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a natural gas resource is disclosed. A methane-rich stream, an LPG stream and optionally a C5+ stream are isolated from a natural gas source in a first separation zone and desulfurized. The methane-rich stream is converted to syngas and subjected to hydrocarbon synthesis, for example, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The products from the hydrocarbon synthesis typically include a C4− fraction, a C5-C20 fraction, and a C20+ wax fraction. These fractions are isolated in a second separation zone. The C4− fraction is recycled through the first separation zone to provide methane for conversion to synthesis gas and an additional LPG fraction. The C4− fraction can be treated, for example, with hydrotreating or hydroisomerization catalysts and conditions before or after the separation.

Abstract: An integrated process for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a natural gas resource is disclosed. A methane-rich stream, an LPG stream and optionally a C5+ stream are isolated from a natural gas source in a first separation zone and desulfurized. The methane-rich stream is converted to syngas and subjected to hydrocarbon synthesis, for example, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The products from the hydrocarbon synthesis typically include a C4− fraction, a C5-C20 fraction, and a C20+ wax fraction. These fractions are isolated in a second separation zone. The C4− fraction is recycled through the first separation zone to provide methane for conversion to synthesis gas and an additional LPG fraction. The C4− fraction can be treated, for example, with hydrotreating or hydroisomerization catalysts and conditions before or after the separation.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing desulfurized hydroprocessed products from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is disclosed. The process involves isolating and desulfurizing a methane-rich stream from a natural gas source in a first separation zone and a desulfurization zone. The methane-rich stream is converted to syngas and subjected to a hydrocarbon synthesis step, for example, a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis step. The products from the hydrocarbon synthesis step typically include a C4− fraction, a C5-20 fraction, and a C20+ wax fraction. These fractions are isolated in a second separation zone, typically via fractional distillation. The C4− fraction can be recycled through the first separation zone to provide a second methane-rich fraction for conversion to synthesis gas. The C4− fraction can optionally be treated, for example, with hydrotreatment or hydroisomerization catalysts and conditions before or after passage through the first separation zone.

Abstract: A pile guide (1) has an open-ended tubular guide member (3), supported on base frame (2), which is adapted slidingly to receive a pile (7) to be driven into the seabed (9) by a hammer (6). The tubular guide member (3) comprises two parts (4) which are held together in the operative position by a latch (14). As the pile (7) is driven into the seabed (9), latch trigger (8) disengages the latch (14) causing the parts (4) to rotate under gravity about points (12) away from the pile (7). As soon as the parts (4) are remote from the pile (7), the pile (7) may be driven fully into the seabed without the hammer fouling the guide member (3).

Abstract: Various methods of fabricating a tungsten conductor structure are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a tungsten conductor structure in an opening in an insulating film is provided that includes forming a titanium nitride film in the opening and heating the a titanium nitride film. The titanium nitride film is exposed to a flow of hydrogen gas and a flow of an inert carrier gas. The titanium nitride film is exposed to a flow of silane at a first flow rate for a first time interval and to a flow of tungsten hexafluoride for a second time interval that begins after the beginning but prior to the end of the first time interval. The flow of silane is reduced at the end of the first time interval to a second flow rate and maintained at the second flow rate for a third time interval. Fluorine diffusion into the titanium nitride film and the potential for void formation due to non-conformal tungsten deposition are reduced.

Abstract: A transistor and a method for making a transistor are described. A silicon gate conductor is patterned over a gate dielectric upon a silicon substrate. Dopant impurity distributions self-aligned to the gate conductor may be introduced. Silicon nitride (“nitride”) spacers are formed adjacent to opposed sidewall surfaces of the gate conductor. Oxide caps are formed covering exposed outer surfaces of the nitride spacers. The oxide caps prevent dissociation of the nitride spacers during a subsequent pre-amorphization implant. A preclean is subsequently used to remove oxides from the surfaces of the gate conductor and semiconductor substrate. The preclean may also remove the oxide caps, but does not attack the nitride spacers. A salicide process is used to form low-resistance gate, source, and drain silicides.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle in which the rack housing is stiffened by integral webs and has lugs to provide mountings for the vehicle engine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rack and pinion assembly in which flexible bellows are provided at both ends of the assembly between the ends of the rack housing and the ends of the rack. The bore at each end of the housing is enlarged and the bellows at each end of the assembly is so connected to the end of the housing and the rack that as the rack is retracted into the housing by movement in one direction the bellows is retracted into the bore and is wholly accommodated in the bore when the rack is fully retracted into the housing.