Abstract: The status of deposits or withdrawals of items in a receptacle is indicated to one or more users having access to the receptacle. A receptacle is accessible by at least one user and is capable of containing an item. A deposit/withdrawal sensor for sensing a deposit or withdrawal of an item in the receptacle is also provided. A user identifier for identifying a user having access to the receptacle during the deposit or withdrawal of the item sensed by the deposit/withdrawal sensor is employed by the system. One or more indicators that are responsive to the deposit/withdrawal sensor and the user identifier are provided to indicate a deposit or withdrawal of the item in the receptacle by the identified user. The indicators may be placed on the receptacle or may be located remote from the receptacle.

Abstract: A water denitrification process is provided which comprises stopping the reduction of nitrate at nitrite, lowering the pH of the water, and then gas stripping the nitrite out of the water by using air as the gas in a sparger. This allows considerable savings to be realized based on the reduced chemical removal costs as compared to other water denitrification processes.

Abstract: An inflatable floating boat lift device constructed of a flexible impermeable fabric comprising main air chambers and a network of hoses and valves connected to a blower controlling the inflation and deflation of each main chamber independently. This device provides vertical lifting and stability of the boat while floating at the surface of the water. There are smaller adjustable buoyancy devices inside the main air chambers that provide floatation of the device when the main chambers are deflated. These buoyancy devices also guide the boat onto the lifting device. On some embodiments, a level sensing device activates blowout plugs that rapidly return the boat to it's original floating position.

Abstract: An ion exchange process utilizes a chemical system in which sodium nitrate is reacted with an acidic solution of urea to selectively precipitate nitrate ions from waste brine in the presence of chloride ions, thereby allowing for the recycling of the brine regenerant.

Abstract: Submarine (6) devices consisting of cavity to hold sand and an inflatable air bladder (10) are located beneath and connected to floating buoys (2). The weight of the sand when put inside the cavity is enough to sink buoy (2) until submarine (6) sits on the bottom of a lake or river. When bladders (10) are inflated by air supplied by an air compressor or a portable air tank, and distributed through a network of polyethylene tubing. They create enough buoyancy to offset the downward pull of the sand, thus allowing the buoys (2) to float back to the surface of the water.

Abstract: A skidbase 16 and a drilling structure 18 are adapted for transfer between a jack-up platform 12 and a fixed platform 14. The jack-up platform 12 is moved into position adjacent the fixed platform 14 and raised to a height aligned with the fixed platform 14. The skidbase 16 is then transferred onto the fixed platform 14 to provide a base on which the drilling structure 18 is next placed. The jack-up platform 12 is raised to a vertical height aligned with the skidbase 16. To ensure proper location of the top surface of the jack-up platform 12 relative to the skidbase 16, a connection means 47 automatically engages and aligns the jack-up platform 12 with the skidbase 16 so that skid rails 32, 44 located on the deck of the jack-up platform 12 and on a top surface of the skidbase 16 are positioned a precise distance apart and at the same vertical height. The drilling structure 18 is then skidded onto the skidbase 16 so that drilling operations may be performed from the fixed platform 14.

Abstract: A site-selectable air traffic control system and method for interacting with a user, the system and method generating a representation of at least one moving aircraft having an initial position and heading with respect to a selected site for producing a dynamic simulation of an air traffic scenario to monitor air traffic in real time and provide expert instruction when necessary, and to analyze air traffic at the selected site. The site selected may consist of one of a plurality of stored sites or a modification of one of those sites. Controller commands issued by a user are entered for altering the air traffic scenario. The air traffic scenario may be based on actual flight patterns of aircraft within the air space corresponding to the selected site.

Abstract: The spacer (50) comprises a generally C-shaped member which is disposed about a complementary shaped pin (40) which connects a caliper housing (12) to a torque support member (16) of a disc brake (10). The pin (40) has radially opposite flat side portions (42, 44) connected by curved surfaces (46, 48). The spacer (50) includes a pair of oppositely disposed and axially spaced apart upper flanges (58) at opposite ends of a bowed upper portion (54), and axially spaced apart lower flanges (60) which are bent axially inwardly toward one another. Each of the lower flanges (60) has a corner ear (62) adjacent a curved portion (52) of the spacer (50) which are bent outwardly away from one another. Adjacent the ears (62) where the lower flanges (60) engage the curved portion (52) are axially opposite notches (64) which prevent stress cracking of the spacer (50).

Abstract: An air traffic control training system and method for interacting with a user, the system and method generating a representation of at least one moving aircraft having an initial position and heading for producing a dynamic simulation of an air traffic scenario. Controller commands issued by a user are entered for altering the air traffic scenario. Rules and procedures stored in a knowledge base are compared to the present state of the simulation of the air traffic scenario or to the controller command by an expert system for issuing a warning upon the immediate or foreseeable failure to observe any rule or procedure in the knowledge base.

Abstract: A site-selectable air traffic control system and method for interacting with a user, the system and method generating a representation of at least one moving aircraft having an initial position and heading with respect to a selected site for producing a dynamic simulation of an air traffic scenario. The site selected may consist of one of a plurality of stored sites or a modification of one of those sites. Controller commands issued by a user are entered for altering the air traffic scenario. Rules and procedures stored in a general knowledge base and a site-specific knowledge base are compared to the present state of the simulation of the air traffic scenario or to the controller command by an expert system for issuing a warning upon the immediate or foreseeable failure to observe any rule or procedure in the knowledge bases.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for limiting tension produced in a tubular string extending from a packer set in a subterranean well to the well surface. Such apparatus comprises a receptacle secured to the packer and defining an elongated seal bore, and a mandrel telescopically and sealably related to the seal bore, the mandrel being connected to the bottom end of the tubing string. In one embodiment, a collet, incorporated in the receptacle for cooperating with an abutment formed on the mandrel, thereby securing the mandrel and the receptacle in a telescopically contracted position until sufficient tensile force is exerted on the mandrel to cause the collet arms to be expanded by the abutment to permit upward movement of the mandrel relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: Scuff pad with step with which resides interiorly of an aerial lift bucket, or bucket liner if provided, at the bottom thereof and which includes a base portion and an upwardly extending portion extending upwardly of the base portion of a predetermined distance, the base portion has a top surface for being engaged by the shoes of said person upon standing in said bucket or liner to prevent scuffing, and the upwardly extending portion has a top surface providing a step which facilitates climbing out of said bucket or liner by the workman.

Abstract: Aqueous syrup for effecting browning of foods cooked in microwave ovens comprising a melted, carmelized, and foamed disaccharide, alone or in combination with a minor amount of a monosaccharide, subsequently dissolved in water to form the syrup. Microwave-cooked foods, e.g., meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and pastries, such as cakes and pies, which ordinarily come out of the cooking oven appearing white or grey, advantageously when treated by basting or recipe-inclusion with the syrup browning agent of the present invention have a browned appearance of conventionally cooked foods.